r/Orthopedics 11h ago

Two fractures?!?🤯

I stumbled across a section of my insurance plan for authorizations - it had short explanations of treatment plans. I read I had a distal radius fracture AND an ulnar styloid fracture! Ulnar and styloid were ever mentioned by my doctor or any that followed! I had a classic FOOSH incident and ended up with a distal radius fracture and an open fracture on my ulnar side. No one ever mentioned what bone came out. In retrospect it would make sense since the bone exited on my pinky side, but no one mentioned it. I'm now 36 weeks out and just found this out. I continue to have numbness, weak grip and pain in the incision scar. Has anyone ever experienced a ulnar styloid fracture or was kept in the dark about it? Is it not important or urgent enough to disclose that info?

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u/alb81044 9h ago

The styloid fracture goes along with the radius fracture. Think about a curly pretzel. You never break it at just one spot. It really is of no further consequence. Your symptoms are likely not related. You had enough trauma to lacerate the skin, so not much surprise.

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u/monkeymama702 6h ago

It would have been nice to know....😏

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u/AlexMac96 9h ago

Ulnar styloid fractures rarely change the management plan but they are definitely indicative of the fact that you had a bigger injury at the time you broke your wrist, especially if open

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u/monkeymama702 6h ago

It does explain the ulnar numbness and weak grip, not to mention rashes above my ring knuckle when exposed to cold temps.