Wrist fracture

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Many wrist fractures require a full cast or a half cast. Read about broken wrists, treatment, follow up appointments and recovery.

Key points

Your child needs a half or full cast to heal a fractured or broken wrist.
A half cast can be removed at home after about three weeks.
A full cast will likely not be removed for at least six weeks.
You child will need to avoid high-impact activities after the cast is removed.
Your child's wrist may need a year to fully recover strength and movement.

Introduction

Wrist with fractured radius — The radius, ulna and wrist bones (carpal bones) meet at the wrist joint. Any of these bones can be broken in a wrist fracture.

A broken or fractured wrist

Your child has a broken or fractured wrist. A wrist fracture may involve the radius, ulna and/or carpal bones.

Treatment

Your child will need a cast

For the bone to heal, your child will need a cast and possibly a sling. What type of cast your child will need depends on how serious the break or fracture was. Some fractures near the wrist, called buckle fractures, can be treated with a removable splint rather than a cast.

Half cast

A half cast will stay on for three to four weeks. Buckle fractures treated in a removable splint or half cast will not require routine fracture clinic visits and can be followed by your child's primary care provider. The splint can be removed at home. For other types of fractures, about one week after the cast is put on, your child will need to have a follow-up appointment with the fracture clinic at the hospital. At the clinic, staff will make sure your child's wrist is healing properly.

Depending on the size of the fracture, it may take six months to a year before your child's wrist can fully straighten, bend and twist. However, most children do not need physiotherapy.

Full cast

If your child has a full cast, it may stay on for four to six weeks or perhaps longer. Your child will have a follow-up appointment once a week for the first few weeks. At one of these appointments, the health-care team will determine if the cast can come off at four to six weeks or if your child will need to keep it on longer.

More information about the treatment

Removing the cast

After three or four weeks, the health-care team at the fracture clinic may allow you to take off a half cast at home. Removing the cast is not difficult. When taking off the cast, carefully cut up the flannel side of the partial cast with scissors.

If your child has a full cast, it will be removed at the fracture clinic.

After the cast is removed, your child's skin may be dry and itchy and look dirty. Use warm water and soap to gently wash and cream to moisturize the skin.

When the cast is off, your child can start moving the wrist. At first, the wrist may be stiff, but movement will get better with time and activity.

Your child's arm may be smaller and feel weaker than the other arm. The muscles get thin from not being used. The muscles will get bigger and stronger as your child goes back to normal activities.

Helping your child

Healing after the cast is removed

Your child should avoid contact sports and high-impact activities after taking the cast off. Check with the health-care team at the fracture clinic for the specific duration for your child, as it may depend on the size of the fracture. Your child will gradually gain confidence in the arm and will return to regular activities.

If you have any concerns, contact your child's health-care provider or the health-care team at the fracture clinic.

Last updated: Septemba 16th 2026