You have a break (fracture) of the forearm bone (radius) where it attaches to your wrist. This type of fracture may be called a Colles fracture. The bone is out of place. It must be set (reduced) to make it straight again. Once the bone is straightened, a splint or cast will be put on. The splint or cast must stay in place until the bone heals. This is usually 4 to 6 weeks. But the splint or cast may need to be replaced in 2 to 3 weeks if it loosens as swelling goes down.
Home care
Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home:
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Keep your arm raised to ease pain and swelling. When sitting or lying down, keep your arm above the level of your heart. You can do this by putting your arm on a pillow that rests on your chest or on a pillow at your side. This is most important during the first 2 days (48 hours) after the injury.
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Put an ice pack on the injured area. Do this for 20 minutes every 1 to 2 hours the first day. You can make an ice pack by wrapping a plastic bag of ice cubes in a thin towel. As the ice melts, make sure that the cast or splint doesn’t get wet. You can put the ice pack inside the sling and directly over the splint or cast. Continue to use the ice pack 3 to 4 times a day for the next 2 days. Then use the pack as needed to ease pain and swelling.
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Always keep the cast or splint completely dry. Bathe with your cast or splint out of the water. Protect it with 2 layers of plastic, such as 2 plastic bags, rubber-banded or taped at the top end. Or use a waterproof shield. If a fiberglass cast or splint gets wet, you can dry it with a hair dryer.
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You may use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain unless another pain medicine was prescribed. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your health care provider before using these medicines. Also talk with your provider if you’ve had a stomach ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, or take a blood thinner.
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Don’t put creams or objects under the cast if you have itching.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your provider in 1 week or as advised. This is to make sure the bone is healing as it should. If a splint was put on, it will likely be changed to a cast during your follow-up visit if swelling allows.
There is a chance that the fracture will move out of place after it is set but before the ends start to seal together. That’s why it’s important that you follow up as directed for another X-ray within the next 7 days.
You will be told of any new findings that may affect your care.
When to contact your doctor
Contact your provider right away if:
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The cast cracks.
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The plaster cast or splint becomes wet or soft.
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The fiberglass cast or splint stays wet for more than 24 hours.
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You feel tightness or your pain under the cast or splint gets worse.
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You have a bad odor from the cast or wound fluid stains the cast.
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Your fingers become swollen, cold, blue, numb, or tingly.
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You can’t move your fingers.
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Skin around the cast becomes red or irritated.
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You have a fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your provider.
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You have shaking chills.
