New Treatment for Wrist Fracture Shortens Recovery Time
With 206 bones in the adult skeleton, it's not surprising that one or two of them might get broken over the course of a lifetime. As it turns out, the average person will experience at least one fracture at one time or another. One of the bones most likely to be broken is the radius of the arm, an injury commonly known as a wrist fracture.
Fortunately, the majority of wrist fractures do not require surgical intervention. In most cases, a plaster cast is used to immobilize the joint for six to eight weeks while the bone is allowed to heal. Although wearing a cast may seem simple enough, it can cause a number of problems.
Many patients require several weeks of intensive physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the affected wrist and hand. In some cases, patients may not recover normal wrist flexibility or function for several months to a year.
Another relatively common treatment option is external fixation. The procedure involves embedding metal pins into the bone on either side of the fracture. The pins are then connected through the skin to an adjustable rod known as an external fixator, which remains outside the wrist. Since the device is cumbersome and a bit weighty, it tends to significantly limit the function of the affected hand.
A significant improvement in treatment can be achieved with the Micronail. This is a small titanium rod designed to be implanted completely inside the fractured bone of the wrist. The surgery is minimally invasive, requiring only a three-quarter inch incision in the skin. The Micronail sits inside the bone, so there's very little risk of irritation to surrounding tendons, muscles, and nerves.
In most cases, the surgery lasts less than an hour, and patients typically go home the same day, wearing a removable splint instead of a plaster cast. Afterwards, patients can expect to begin using the injured wrist in just one to two weeks.
While the Micronail implant isn't appropriate for every patient, it can be used in the treatment of a variety of wrist fractures.
Fortunately, the majority of wrist fractures do not require surgical intervention. In most cases, a plaster cast is used to immobilize the joint for six to eight weeks while the bone is allowed to heal. Although wearing a cast may seem simple enough, it can cause a number of problems.
Many patients require several weeks of intensive physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the affected wrist and hand. In some cases, patients may not recover normal wrist flexibility or function for several months to a year.
Another relatively common treatment option is external fixation. The procedure involves embedding metal pins into the bone on either side of the fracture. The pins are then connected through the skin to an adjustable rod known as an external fixator, which remains outside the wrist. Since the device is cumbersome and a bit weighty, it tends to significantly limit the function of the affected hand.
A significant improvement in treatment can be achieved with the Micronail. This is a small titanium rod designed to be implanted completely inside the fractured bone of the wrist. The surgery is minimally invasive, requiring only a three-quarter inch incision in the skin. The Micronail sits inside the bone, so there's very little risk of irritation to surrounding tendons, muscles, and nerves.
In most cases, the surgery lasts less than an hour, and patients typically go home the same day, wearing a removable splint instead of a plaster cast. Afterwards, patients can expect to begin using the injured wrist in just one to two weeks.
While the Micronail implant isn't appropriate for every patient, it can be used in the treatment of a variety of wrist fractures.
Labels: wrist fracture treatment
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