Forearm Fracture
A fractured forearm can be painful, swollen, tender, and sometimes, even deformed. It can affect your ability to rotate your arm, as well as bend and straighten the wrist and elbow. Untreated forearm fractures can lead to several complications, both immediate and long-term. When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. In the former case, the bone doesn’t heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time. This is why you should not hesitate to contact the caring and experienced orthopedic specialists at Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
OVERVIEW
Fractures of the forearm are common injuries in adults accounting for close to half of all broken bones in adults. The highest incidence occurs in men between 10 and 20 years old and women over 60 years old. Fractures of the forearm can occur at different levels: near the wrist at the farthest (distal) end of the bone, in the middle of the forearm, or near the elbow at the top (proximal) end of the bone. They can occur through a direct blow (a fall on the forearm or direct impact from an object) or indirect injury. The latter is usually secondary to landing on an outstretched arm.
ABOUT THE FOREARM
The forearm contains two long bones, the radius and the ulna, that run between the elbow and the wrist joints. If one drops the arms to the side, palms facing outward. The bone closest to the body is the ulna. It’s longer and larger than the forearm’s other bone, the radius. (While maintaining that palms-out position, the radius is closest to the thumb.) The ulna which is straight, is biggest at the elbow, and the radius which has a curve or bow to it, is biggest at the wrist. Together, they give the forearm its rotational flexibility — that’s how it is possible to turn palms up or palms down. The radius and ulna are covered with many long muscles that control the movement of the wrist, hand, and fingers. Several arteries and nerves also pass through the forearm. They provide blood supply and feeling to different parts of the hand and forearm. These nerves also control the actions of the muscles, which allows the use of hands and fingers.
WHAT IS A FOREARM FRACTURE?
The forearm has a complex anatomy to serve its functions of supporting and positioning the hand in space and providing anchorage for muscles that serve hand function. To fully restore these functions after a forearm fracture the bones must heal in the normal anatomical position. Forearm fractures can occur as a single (radius or ulna only) or combined (both bones) fracture. When both bones are fractured at different levels and there is a joint injury at the wrist or elbow, these are described as Galeazzi or Monteggia fractures. A Galeazzi fracture is most often a displaced fracture in the radius and a dislocation of the ulna at the wrist where the radius and ulna come together. A Monteggia fracture is most often a fracture in the ulna and the top (head) of the radius is dislocated at the elbow joint. Occasionally, one bone may break by itself without any other injuries. This usually occurs after a direct blow to the middle of the forearm, and in the ulna, it is sometimes called a “nightstick injury.” Forearm bones can break in several ways. The bone can crack just slightly, or it can break into many pieces. The broken pieces of bone may line up straight or may be far out of place. In some cases, the bone will break in such a way that bone fragments stick out through the skin or a wound penetrates down to the broken bone. This is called an open fracture and requires immediate medical attention because of the risk of infection.
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