First Aid & Emergencies

Wrist Injury Treatment

1. Get Immediate Help, if Necessary

• If there is obvious deformity, severe pain, or the person cannot move the wrist or maintain a grip, see a doctor or go to a hospital emergency department. These are signs of a possible fracture.

• Support the hurt arm and wrist with a makeshift splint, such as a pillow or sling, until you get help.

2. Rest Wrist

• Minimize wrist motion to prevent further injury.

3. Control Swelling

• Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time, 4 to 8 times the first day.

• You may apply a compression wrap such as an Ace bandage.

• Elevate the wrist above heart level.

4. Treat Symptoms

•  For pain and inflammation, give the person over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 18.

5. Follow-Up

• If pain and swelling get worse in 24 hours, see a doctor.

• The doctor may order X-rays to rule out a fracture that was not obvious and examine the wrist to look for tendonitis, arthritis, gout, infection, or other conditions.