What happens if you break your radius and ulna?

When the radius and ulna are broken, a number of nearby structures can also be injured. These include the cartilage lining the surfaces of the wrist joint, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons. Injury to these structures may delay your recovery.

How long does a fractured radius wrist take to heal?

The wrist and arm should be functional for most activity by 8 to 10 weeks after surgery. After about 3 to 6 months, most patients can resume heavier wrist or arm activity and sports.

Can you move your arm with a broken ulna?

A fracture in the forearm can occur near the wrist, in the middle of the forearm or near the elbow. The forearm motion allows us to rotate our palms up or down. A broken forearm can affect your ability to rotate your arm and even bend or straighten the wrist and elbow.

How long does it take to recover from distal radius fracture?

Most patients will be able to perform most activities of daily living at about 6 weeks but with residual stiffness, with recovery of about 50\% of their normal wrist motion. At about 3 months, most patients have regained most of their motion in their hand and wrist as well as strength.

Which is bigger ulna or radius?

The radius is often thought of as the larger of the two long bones in the forearm because it is thicker than the ulna at the wrist, but it is thinner at the elbow. The ulna is longer than the radius by about an inch in most people, but lengths vary considerably.

Can a broken wrist heal in 4 weeks?

Hand and wrist fractures often heal in 4-6 weeks whereas a tibia fracture may take 20 weeks or more. Healing time for fractures are divided into three phases: 1. Inflammatory Phase: starts at the time of injury and lasts 1-2 weeks.

How long will my wrist hurt after fracture?

A cast might be needed for six to eight weeks, and sometimes even longer depending on the severity of the break. More severe breaks may take as long as six months to fully heal. Discomfort or pain may continue for months or even years after your injury.

How does radius and ulna work?

The radius articulates with the ulna in a synovial pivot joint. The radial head rotates within the annular ligament and radial notch on the ulna to produce pronation of the forearm. The radius and ulna also articulate distally in reverse to their articulation at the elbow to produce supination.

What does the radius and ulna do?

The radius and ulna pivot around one another to allow rotation of the wrist. Together, along with the humerus, they create the elbow joint. The radius is often thought of as the larger of the two long bones in the forearm because it is thicker than the ulna at the wrist, but it is thinner at the elbow.