Information for the public
Assessment and treatment
Assessment and treatment
Forearm fractures (distal radius fractures)
Distal radius fractures are breaks in a bone in the forearm (the radius) next to the wrist. If you have this type of fracture, you might have to have the bone put back into place; this is known as reduction. This may be done in the emergency department and you'll need stronger pain relief than gas and air. Adults (16 or over) may have an injection to numb the arm during the procedure.
The broken bone may be pulled back into place manually and held there with a plaster cast. Children may have a plaster cast below the elbow. When a cast cannot hold the broken bone in position, an operation may be needed to place a wire in the bone.
If you need an operation for a distal radius fracture, you should have it within 72 hours if the break involves a joint and within 7 days if a joint isn't involved. How the break is fixed depends on where it is and whether you need an operation for reduction.
Upper arm fractures in adults (proximal humerus fractures)
Usually you won't need surgery for a fracture of the upper arm bone close to the shoulder joint (proximal humerus) caused by a fall. Sometimes an operation is needed for certain fractures.
Torus fractures in children
Torus fractures (also known as buckle fractures) are partial breaks of the long bones (large bones in the arms and legs) in children. NICE has said that children with torus fractures of a bone in the forearm called the distal radius should not have rigid casts. Children should be discharged from hospital after a torus fracture has been assessed and their parents and carers should be told that they won't usually need another appointment. This is because this type of fracture usually heals on its own.
Ankle fractures
If you have fractured your ankle, you might need an operation. This may be done on the same day of the injury or the next. Sometimes you won't need an operation and you should be advised to put as much weight on your ankle as you can bear. If healthcare professionals aren't sure that the broken bone is stable, they should arrange for you to have a check‑up within 2 weeks. If you are still having problems with your ankle after 6 weeks, you should return to hospital for another check‑up.
Thigh bone fractures (femoral fractures) in children
Children who have broken a bone in their thigh should be admitted to hospital. How the fracture is treated will depend on the child's age and weight. Treatment for small children may be a type of 'traction' (pulling on the leg using a weight and a pulley). This can help to pull the bone back into place and ease the pain. Plates and rods are used to fix thigh bone fractures in bigger children (weighing more than 25 kilograms).
Healthcare professionals treating broken thigh bones in children should consider whether the injury might be non‑accidental.