Wrist & Hand Fracture Management in Kansas City

Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered specifically to you. Many people believe it’s best to wait until their pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay fracture management treatments. 

If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or increasing inability to perform your daily activities, fracture management treatments may be right for you. New technologies allow patients with severe hand and wrist concerns to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more active, pain-free lifestyle.

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least two phone calls:

• A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
• A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

• Pre-surgical laboratory tests
• X-rays
• Primary care clearance

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery. Always check with your physician before surgery for their specific instructions.

Most physicians require that patients do not eat or drink after midnight prior to a scheduled surgery. Additionally, you will need to designate a family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

If you schedule your surgery at Kansas City Orthopedic Institute, you can expect the following on surgery day:

• A receptionist will check you in at the registration desk.
• A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
• Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
• The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

Though your provider will look to exhaust any conservative or non-invasive treatments before recommending surgery, a more invasive procedure may be necessary if severe pain, deformity or a loss of function is present as a result of your hand/wrist fracture. 

The exact procedure you’ll need to repair a hand or wrist fracture can vary significantly, primarily based on the extent of the damage. Your surgeon will evaluate the area and observe the damage using imaging studies, an open incision or arthroscopy.

Significant fractures may require a more open approach, which involves using larger incisions so the surgeon can better access, visualize, and repair the damaged area. We are always conscious about minimizing incision size, bone loss, and bleeding with any surgical procedure on the hand and wrist.

Fracture management typically involves stabilizing the affected bone(s). This process involves moving those pieces back in their proper alignment to allow for proper healing. Your provider may recommend a few different procedures, including closed reduction with percutaneous pinning or open reduction with internal fixation.

After your surgery, you will remain in the recovery room while our experienced clinical team monitors you, providing pain relief medication if needed.  Many of our fracture repair patients are able to return home that day, but others may require a brief hospital stay. In most cases involving a hand/wrist fracture, a dressing set over the surgical site and we fit you with a brace, splint, or sling to ensure the area remains immobilized and protected.

You can expect swelling, soreness and bruising in your hand or wrist for several days after surgery. It’s important to keep your arm elevated with an ice pack after surgery to reduce swelling and soreness.

Your recovery will depend on various factors, including your health prior to the injury and the extent of the damage. Because of this, predicting recovery times is challenging, but it may take several months to regain normal range of motion, strength, and function of your hand and wrist.

Additionally, we recommend that patients exercise (walking for instance, if balance is not the cause of the fracture) and eat a balanced diet to help aid the recovery process from a hand or wrist fracture