Removal of a Fixator & Wrist Fracture

If you fracture your wrist, your doctor could recommend an external fixation device. This device provides stabilization to the broken bones to ensure that they heal together correctly.

Identification

• External fixators for a fractured wrist consist of a frame that fits around the outside of your wrist. It connects to pins or rods that enter through your skin and reach to the fractured bones in your wrist, holding them in place.

Effects

• Six to eight weeks after a fixator has been installed, your wrist fracture should be healed enough that you no longer need it. You will be given local anesthesia, and your doctor will remove the pins and brace.

Considerations

• You will need physical therapy after the fixator is removed to build strength in your wrist as it continues to heal. It could take up to a year to regain full use and abilities of your wrist, according to "Fractures."