What does hand swelling feel like with distal radius fracture?

A distal radius fracture occurs near the wrist end of the forearm bone. Injury to nearby tissues can cause swelling around the wrist and back of the hand, while keeping the arm still may make the fingers feel stiff and puffy. Bruising can spread into the palm or fingers as blood and fluid move through the tissues. Rings may become tight, and making a fist may be difficult. Swelling should be considered alongside pain, finger movement, skin colour, warmth, and sensation, especially when a cast or splint is in place.

Follow the fracture team’s instructions, keep the hand supported as advised, and move the fingers gently if you have been told that this is safe. Remove rings before swelling increases. Check that the fingers remain their usual colour and warmth and that you can move and feel them. Do not alter or remove a cast or splint yourself. Contact the treating service if the fit becomes tight or pain and swelling increase rather than settle.

Seek urgent assessment if fingers become blue, pale, cold, increasingly numb, or difficult to move, or if pain and tightness become severe under a cast or splint. Rapid swelling, worsening pressure, or pain that is not controlled as instructed also needs prompt review. These signs can indicate that nerves or circulation are being affected.

How much finger movement is appropriate with my fracture? Should I elevate the hand, and for how long? How can I tell whether my cast or splint is too tight? When will wrist and hand exercises begin? Which changes require immediate review?