What should you know about a jammed wrist or a broken wrist?

A sprain or impact injury can stretch soft tissues around the wrist, while a distal radius fracture is a break near the wrist end of the forearm bone. Both may cause wrist pain, hand swelling, bruising, tenderness, and difficulty gripping. A visible change in shape, marked tenderness over bone, or pain after a fall raises concern for fracture, but appearance alone cannot confirm it. Some small fractures are difficult to recognise without imaging.

Remove rings and watches before swelling increases. Rest the wrist, keep it raised, and use a wrapped cold pack for short periods. Do not force movement, massage the injured area, or try to straighten it. A temporary splint can limit painful motion while you arrange assessment. Do not use the hand for lifting until a clinician has advised what is safe. Confirm suitable pain relief with a pharmacist or doctor, especially if you have kidney, stomach, bleeding, or pregnancy-related concerns.

Seek urgent care for a wrist that looks deformed, an open wound near the injury, severe or rapidly increasing swelling, numb or weak fingers, or fingers that become pale, blue, or cold. Prompt assessment is also sensible after a significant fall or direct blow, or when pain and swelling do not begin settling. Treatment may involve a cast, closed reduction, or fracture fixation surgery depending on alignment and stability.

Do I need imaging, and which bone or soft tissue is affected? Should I wear a splint or cast, and for how long? What hand movements are safe now? When should I begin hand therapy, and which changes require an earlier review?