Healing of a broken forearm

by james stewart
(louisiana)

My 15 year old son broke his ulna bone and had surgery to install a plate and 6 screws. It has been 6 weeeks and we are excerising the arm lightly. This includes flexing and light weights to 8 lbs.

He has full motion but still has a grip problem with his little finger. He is anxious to get back to football but is questioning me on the probability of re-fracture of the bone?

any comments

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Healing of a broken forearm

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Oct 14, 2008
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ulna fracture healing
by: Bart - SII

It sounds like he is doing well - 6 weeks means the bones should be healed on the X-ray, and that as he continues to increase his strengthening and use of the arm his bones will get stronger.

I think that his chances of re-injury are not likely to be any greater than they were prior to his first fracture, as long as the bone is healed well - your physician should take follow-up X-rays and be able to determine when it is safe for him to return to football.

As for the pinky finger grip problem - he could have had some ulnar nerve irritation with the fracture and surgery - that can affect the little and ring fingers. Does he have numbness or altered sensation in either of these fingers?

Often nerve irritation will get better with time, but it can take several months to a year. Sometimes it is permanent.

Bart