This document discusses wrist fractures, including who is most at risk, common causes, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and prevention. The elderly and those with osteoporosis are most prone to wrist fractures due to falls. Treatment may involve splinting, casting, closed reduction, or surgery depending on the fracture. Maintaining bone health through medication, vitamins, exercise, and diet can help prevent wrist fractures.

1. David Moss, MD
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

2.  Wrist anatomy
 Types of wrist fractures
 Who gets wrist fractures?
 Mechanism of injury
 Presentation
 Signs and symptoms
 Typical course of treatment
 Prevention

5. Who gets wrist fractures?
 Fall onto outstretched hand
 Active & athletic
 High energy
 Elderly
 Osteoporosis
 One of the most common fractures seen in ER

11. Normal wrist x-ray

17. Splint or Cast

18. Closed reduction

19. Surgery
 For unstable fractures
 External fixation
 Open Reduction and Internal Fixation – “ORIF"
 “plates and screws”

20. External fixation

21. ORIF

24. Osteoporosis
 Definition: Bone Density
 <1 SD of normal bone: normal
 1-2.5 SD below normal: osteopenic
 >2.5 SD below normal: osteoporotic
 Based on DEXA scan of hip and spine
 1/3 of white women > 65 years old

25. Bone health
 Maintain bone density

26. Medication & vitamins
 Bisphosphonates
 Fosamax
 Boniva
 Alendronate
 Zometa
 Actonel
 Calcium
 1000-1200 mg/day
 Vitamin D

27. Active lifestyle

28. Healthy diet

29. David Moss, MD
Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, PA
5454 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 1000
301-657-1996