A broken wrist might cause these signs and symptoms:

• Severe pain that might worsen when gripping or squeezing or moving your hand or wrist
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• Obvious deformity, such as a bent wrist

A broken wrist can be caused by:

• Falls. Falling onto an outstretched hand is one of the most common causes of a broken wrist.
• Sports injuries. Many wrist fractures occur during contact sports or sports in which you might fall onto an outstretched hand — such as in-line skating or snowboarding.
• Motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle crashes can cause wrist bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair.

Participating in certain sports activities and having the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis can increase your chances of breaking a wrist.

Sports activities

Contact sports and activities that increase your risk of falling can increase your risk of breaking bones in your wrist. Examples include:

• Football or soccer, especially on artificial turf
• Rugby
• Horseback riding
• Hockey
• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• In-line skating
• Jumping on a trampoline

Complications of a broken wrist are rare, but they might include:

• Ongoing stiffness, aching or disability. Stiffness, pain or aching in the affected area generally goes away eventually after your cast is removed or after surgery. However, some people have permanent stiffness or pain. Be patient with your recovery, and talk to your doctor about exercises that might help or for a referral to physical or occupational therapy.
• Osteoarthritis. Fractures that extend into a joint can cause arthritis years later. If your wrist starts to hurt or swell long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation.
• Nerve or blood vessel damage. Trauma to the wrist can injure adjacent nerves and blood vessels. Seek immediate attention if you have numbness or circulation problems.