Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.
Immediate priorities
Limb-threatening threats
Open fracture
Gross contamination
Visible bone
Vascular injury
Absent radial pulse
Expanding hematoma
Compartment syndrome
Pain out of proportion
Pain with passive finger stretch
Irreducible deformity
Skin tenting
Neurovascular compromise
Stabilization bundle
Splinting position
Sugar-tong splint for most both-bone forearm and distal radius injuries
Long-arm splint for unstable midshaft injuries and Monteggia or Galeazzi patterns
Analgesia plan
Multimodal baseline
Procedural sedation pathway if reduction needed
Neurovascular checks timing
Pre-splint exam documented
Post-splint exam documented
Skin and soft tissue protection
Remove rings and tight bracelets early
Elevation at heart level
Consultation and escalation triggers
Immediate orthopedics
Open fracture
Vascular deficit after reduction attempt
Compartment syndrome concern
Monteggia fracture-dislocation
Galeazzi fracture-dislocation
Floating elbow injury
Immediate vascular surgery
Persistent pulseless, cool hand
Hard signs of arterial injury
Emergent operating room consideration
Compartment syndrome
Open fracture with gross contamination
Unstable fracture with threatened skin
Key concepts
Injury patterns to not miss
Both-bone forearm fracture
High risk of displacement and loss of rotation without anatomic alignment
Higher compartment syndrome risk than isolated distal radius
Galeazzi fracture-dislocation
Distal radius shaft fracture with distal radioulnar joint instability
Ulnar head prominence and DRUJ pain as clue
Monteggia fracture-dislocation
Proximal ulna fracture with radial head dislocation
Pediatric subtle ulna bowing with radial head dislocation possibility
Essex-Lopresti injury
Radial head fracture with interosseous membrane disruption and DRUJ instability
Wrist pain after elbow trauma as clue
Functional targets
Pain control adequate for serial neurovascular checks
Immobilization preventing displacement while awaiting definitive management
Preservation of pronation and supination through anatomic reduction when indicated
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.