Comparing treatments

You wear a cast for 6 weeks.

Metal devices are used to keep the fracture from moving while it heals.

It's unknown if there's a difference in symptoms, limitations, and subsequent surgery between people treated with a cast or with surgery.

Your radius may heal with a bend or shortened.

It seems that people with more limitied activity are less bothered by this.

It's unknown if there's a difference in symptoms, limitations, and subsequent surgery between people treated with a cast or with surgery.

Surgery can line up the bone better. The relationship of alignment to function might be stronger in people who are more active.

No surgery.

You can use a removable splint rather than a cast and move your wrist a few weeks earlier.

The fracture is less likely to heal in a bent or shortened position.

You can start using your wrist as soon as you're comfortable.

You can’t bend your wrist for 6 weeks.

You wear a bag over the cast to shower.

Stiff wrist when you come out of your cast.

The risks, discomforts, and inconveniences of surgery.

The scar.

You might need a second surgery to remove the metal implants.

Healing with a bend or shortening.

You might choose surgery if this happens.

Of the 100 people having surgery, 4 have a minor problem and 7 have a major problem (e.g. loosening of the plate, deep infection, or a ruptured tendon).