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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Should I Be Worried About The Stiffness In Wrist After A Fracture?

I broke my wrist and I just got my cast off after 5 weeks and one with a back slab! Movement is coming back it s the 4th day today my thumb is still stiff and on occasions my wrist still hurts but I m more worried that I can t physically make my wrist turn so that my palm is facing upwards! Is this normal?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Mon, 25 Feb 2019 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 27 Feb 2019 Last reviewed on
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  Anonymous's Response
's  Response
Hello,

It is very normal to be stiff after being treated in a cast. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months to resolve.

However, with non-operatively treated wrist fractures, there is a risk of rupturing the thumb extensor tendon, meaning that you would loose the ability to straighten out your thumb.

This risk is low, but it does happen, but if you are able to straighten out your thumb then there is nothing to worry about.

The loss of turning your wrist upwards, also known as supination is normal, but you might not ever get it all back, it just depends on how bad your break was, and your natural individual body response.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Daniel Richard Paull, Orthopaedic Surgeon
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Should I Be Worried About The Stiffness In Wrist After A Fracture?

Hello, It is very normal to be stiff after being treated in a cast. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months to resolve. However, with non-operatively treated wrist fractures, there is a risk of rupturing the thumb extensor tendon, meaning that you would loose the ability to straighten out your thumb. This risk is low, but it does happen, but if you are able to straighten out your thumb then there is nothing to worry about. The loss of turning your wrist upwards, also known as supination is normal, but you might not ever get it all back, it just depends on how bad your break was, and your natural individual body response. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Daniel Richard Paull, Orthopaedic Surgeon