CURRENT CONCEPTS IN ADULTS UPPER EXTREMITY FRACTURES

21452Ugur_TiftikciCurrent_Consept_in_adults.kapak

REHABILITATION PROTOCOLS FOR WRIST FRACTURES

Şahan Güven

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara, Türkiye

Güven Ş. Rehabilitation Protocols for Wrist Fractures. In: Tiftikçi U, Erdoğan E, Ergün C, Güneş Z, editors. Current Concepts in Adults Upper Extremity Fractures. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.363-370.

ABSTRACT

Wrist fractures are among the most common upper extremity injuries, significantly affecting hand function and daily activities. Given the wrist’s critical role in mobility, stability, and fine motor control, a well-structured rehabilitation program is essential to restore function, minimize complications, and promote a swift return to daily life. This review details rehabilitation protocols for various wrist fractures, including distal radius, scaphoid, metacarpal, and phalanx fractures, addressing both conservative and surgical treatment approaches such as casting, external fixation, closed reduction with percutaneous pinning (CRPP), and open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF). Each protocol is designed to optimize recovery by incorporating progressive range of motion (ROM) exercises, muscle strengthening, proprioceptive training, and functional reintegration. Emphasis is placed on early mobilization to prevent joint stiffness and muscle atrophy while ensuring a gradual and safe increase in activity. A patient-centered approach, tailored to fracture type, severity, and individual needs, is crucial for achieving optimal functional outcomes. Additionally, rehabilitation should not focus solely on the affected wrist but should include surrounding joints and overall body mechanics to facilitate a holistic recovery. Effective rehabilitation integrates medical treatment, structured exercise regimens, and continuous assessment, fostering both physical recovery and psychological adaptation, ultimately improving the patient’s quality of life.

Keywords: Wrist injuries; Exercise therapy; Physical therapy modalities; Radius fractures; Scaphoid bone; Metacarpal bones

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