Broken Wrist Compensation, Symptoms And Treatment

A broken wrist can occur in one of two ways. Any break of the bones in the wrist is considered a wrist fracture. There are the two forearm bones, known as the radius and ulna, as well as eight carpal bones that connect the forearms with the fingers. The two common kinds of fractures of the wrist are the Colles’ fracture that is a break which occurs near the end of the radius and a Scaphoid fracture, which is a break of the bone that is located under the thumb connecting the radius to the thumb. The Colles’ fracture is more common in older people, while the Scaphoid fracture is more common among young adults and children.

Causes of a broken wrist

• Falling on outstretched arm
• Severe twist or unnatural rotation
• Direct hit to the wrist area that is severe

Symptoms of a broken wrist

• Pain, which can be mild to severe depending on the severity of the fracture
• Swelling, tenderness, discoloration
• Bruising around the entire wrist
• Limited mobility in the wrist or thumb
• Deformity or dislocation in the wrist

Treatment for a broken wrist

Treatment for a broken wrist will vary, depending on the severity of the injury. The overall goal of treatment is to put the bones back into their rightful place and then keep them in place throughout the duration of the healing process. This can be done in many different ways. If an injury is not severe, a cast or splint will be put on the wrist to keep it immobile while the bones heal. In this instance, surgery isn’t required. However, if there is a severe break, surgery could be required.

If surgery is needed to fix a broken wrist, doctors may use screws, plates, or metal pins that will hold the fractured bones in place. Every injury is different, which is why it is important for each patient to discuss their specific injury with their doctor to know what to expect. Pain medication may be prescribed, but in most cases OTC (over the counter) pain medications suffice to treat the pain. While the healing process is going on, patients will need periodic checkups to monitor the progress. This could include new x-rays and regular exams to ensure that everything is progressing as it should. Once the bones have healed significantly, strengthening and range-of-motion exercises can be done to regain the lost mobility and strength in the damaged wrist. In severe cases, the help of a physical therapist will be employed.

Compensation for a broken wrist

Many people are unaware that they can claim compensation for a broken or fractured bone but help is at hand. Whether you have been injured at work, on the road, playing sport, in hospital, in the street, in a shop, an office, commercial or public building, at home, a friend's house or any kind of slip, trip or fall.

In addition to claiming compensation for you or a loved ones suffering, you may also be able to claim for medical expenses, lost wages and any other out of pocket expenses.  For an idea of what you could get see some typical compensation amounts.

Pinstripe make it easy for you to claim compensation. All you need to do is complete the simple online form opposite and the experienced and friendly claims team will handle it from there. It's that easy!