About your visit
We have examined you and ascertained that you have broken your wrist. If it was necessary, we have relocated the fracture. You have been given a cast to help the fracture heal. The cast is made of wood and comes from Woodcast. You may have been given a sling to wear for the first day.
Your cast will be removed after ___ weeks, either by your general practitioner or at a check-up at the Ambulatorie for Kirurgi, Ambulatorie 2 (surgical outpatient department).
When you get home
Contact your general practitioner if the cast is too tight
Act immediately if the cast feels too tight and causes irritation or if it feels too big. Call your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours if you experience the following:
- you cannot move your fingers or knuckles
- the cast begins to pinch or breaks
- your arm or hand begins to swell
- your fingers become very cold or warm
- your fingers start to tingle
- your whole hand changes colour
- you are in a lot of pain.
You may bleed under the skin
When you have a broken wrist, you may develop bruises or blood spots under your skin that extend to your fingers. These symptoms will go away on their own.
Take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain
You should take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain. Pain relievers can be bought at a pharmacy either over the counter or by prescription. Take only the amount of pain reliever recommended on the package. Contact your general practitioner if you need help managing the pain.
Protect the cast when bathing/showering
Cover your cast with a plastic bag when you are bathing/showering to avoid getting it wet.
Avoid inserting objects to relieve itching
Do not insert objects, such as a knitting needle, under the cast to relieve itching. You risk damaging the skin and causing sores.
The cast can cause irritation
When you have a cast, you will often experience that:
- you cannot move your wrist
- your arm becomes sore and tired
- you sweat under the cast and your skin itches.
If the cast has sharp edges that cause irritation, call the medical hotline on 1813.
Use the sling correctly
Your hand should be elevated above your elbow when wearing the sling. Use the sling on the first day, except at night. If your entire arm is in a cast, use the sling if you are in pain.
Do not wear jewellery on the hand in the cast
Avoid wearing rings on the hand in the cast as your fingers may swell.
Prevent swelling
To keep your hand from swelling, keep it level with your heart. Rest your arm on a pillow when you are sitting down, for example.
Use your hand while it is in the cast
Use your hand every day, even while wearing a cast. This will help you maintain mobility and avoid swelling. Use your arm as you normally would when dressing, cleaning and eating. Avoid lifting heavy objects, for example grocery bags, for six to eight weeks.
Check-ups
If we judge that the fracture is stable, you will have a check-up at your general practitioner after four weeks and have the cast removed the same time. Contact your general practitioner for an appointment.
If the fracture is more unstable, we will invite you for a check-up at the Ambulatorie for Kirurgi, Ambulatorie 2 (surgical outpatient department).
If your condition deteriorates before your check-up, contact your general practitioner immediately. If your condition deteriorates acutely, dial 1813 for the medical helpline.
Exercises
Begin rehabilitation immediately
Start doing the exercises while you are wearing the cast. These exercises will help you regain mobility faster. We will guide you through the exercises.
Complete the exercises four to five times a day and repeat each exercise at least 15 times. Relax your shoulders and keep an easy pace.
If you begin to feel pain while doing the exercises, take a 30 minute break and then continue doing the exercises. Remove your sling when you are doing the exercises.
Exercise 1
- Stretch your fingers.
- Slowly make a fist by first bending the joints closest to the fingertip, then the middle joints and finally the joints at the base of your fingers.
- Release the fist and stretch out your fingers.
Exercise 6
Support the arm with your other hand if necessary.
- Bend your elbow as much as possible.
- Stretch out your elbow again.
Exercise 9
Straighten your back, lower your shoulders and keep your arms by your side.
- Push your chest forward and pull your shoulders back.
- Let your chest and shoulders relax.
Worth knowing
We will assess whether you need to be examined for osteoporosis (brittle bones)
If the fracture could be due to osteoporosis, you will be referred to your general practitioner for an examination. In some cases, you will also have blood tests taken. Osteoporosis is easy to treat, and treatment will reduce the risk of more fractures.
Check your medical journal and test results
You can check your medical journal, health data and any test results at www.minsundhedsplatform.dk and www.sundhed.dk. They are both available as apps: MinSP and MinSundhed. Log on to the apps with your MitID.
We will notify your doctor
We will send information about your visit to the hospital to your general practitioner. Let us know if you do not want your general practitioner to receive information from the hospital.
Your personal data
The Capital Region of Denmark uses the personal data you share with us when you make an enquiry. You can read more about how we use your data and your rights on our website: www.regionh.dk/persondatapolitik (in Danish only).
Learn more
Learn more about having a broken wrist at www.patienthåndbogen.dk (in Danish only). Search under ’håndledsbrud’.