Distal Radius Wrist Fractures

It happens in a split second—one awkward FOOSH - a fall on outstretched hand - to break it, and suddenly your wrist is swollen, painful, and not quite right. You may have just joined the ranks of people with the most common broken bone in the body: a distal radius fracture.

But what does that really mean?

The distal radius is the end of your radius bone, near the wrist. It’s the first thing to take the hit when you fall forward. These fractures are especially common in:

• Older adults with fragile bones (often related to osteoporosis)

• Active people slipping on ice or trails

  
  

In this video, I break down what happens when you break your wrist—from diagnosis to treatment options (cast vs. surgery), and what recovery typically looks like. Whether you’re a patient, a family member, or just curious, it’s designed to make sense of a confusing situation.