CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF RADIUS AND ULNA FRACTURE
What is an ulna and radius fracture?
The most common injury to the ulna and radius is bone fracture, that is, the breakage of both bones or either of them. These injuries are usually caused by trauma or by degenerative pathologies, which cause wear and tear of the bones and cartilage, among others, osteoarthritis or osteoporosis.
Symptoms
Fracture of the ulna and radius usually manifests itself by acute pain in the region, mainly along the forearm, which increases on palpation. The patient may present with elbow or wrist deformity.
In addition, swelling in the region is recurrent, which leads to joint immobility or stiffness and prevents the patient from performing everyday movements.
Causes of ulna and radius fracture
The most recurrent causes of ulna or radius fractures tend to be trauma to the forearm or falls in which the hand is supported.
In addition, they are fractures that in elderly patients are shown as a result of bone and cartilage wear due to degenerative pathologies.
Types of ulna and radius fractures
Based on the properties of the patient’s injury, different types of fractures can be distinguished:
- Torus fracture, which may damage the developmental cartilage, but there is no bony displacement.
- Metaphyseal fracture and Green Stem fracture, in which the bone is only broken on one side, but the fracture does not go through the entire bone.
- Galeazzi fracture, where both bones are involved: the radius is displaced and the ulna is dislocated in the wrist region.
- The most serious fracture is the Monteaggia fracture, which affects both bones of the forearm. In this situation, the ulna is fractured and the radius is dislocated at the top.
Diagnosis of ulna and radius fracture
When the patient comes to the health expert showing signs of such a fracture, first of all, a palpation of the region is performed, where it will be possible to assess whether there is tendon or nerve involvement. In addition, the mobility of the wrist and elbow and the deformities present will be studied.
In several cases, complementary diagnostic tests are required to corroborate the presence of the lesion. In most patients, X-rays and MRI scans are performed, which provide more detailed information.
Treatments
After an accurate diagnosis of the patient’s injury, the first step is immobilization of the forearm, to help the bones knit together naturally. For this purpose, a cast or splint is applied. On the other hand, if the pain is severe, anti-inflammatory medication will be prescribed.
In more severe situations, where the immobilization regimen has not worked, it will be necessary for the person to undergo surgery, where the bones will be precisely repositioned and fixed by means of surgical material.
Recovery after fracture of the Ulna and Radius
After an injury of this magnitude, rehabilitation of the forearm joints becomes vitally important, as it will allow the patient to regain mobility and functionality to resume daily life.
The recovery of mobility and strength with physiotherapy, supervised by physiotherapists and functional recoverers, is highly recommended to accelerate the process of recovery of functionality. These sessions are based on the facilitation of joint mobility and muscle strengthening in a progressive manner.