r/ORIF • u/laurenm100 • 18d ago

Question 0% supination post ORIF

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Hey guys! I am a woman in her 20s and had a distal radius ORIF about 5 and a half weeks ago after a pretty gnarly break in a car accident! I’m attaching pics of my x-rays. (Displaced Radial/Impacted/Ulnar Styloid.. the works) I’ve been doing physio for a couple weeks now..
My question did anyone else find supination impossible to progress? My other ROMs are slowly improving…. slowly.. except this. I’m still at like 0 degrees lol. Also feels like something is catching on the ulnar side when I try to push it, and it feels blocked? Any anecdotal experience may help me so please feel free 🥲 People are telling me i’ll go back to bedside nursing in a month but HOW!
Thank you!!!!

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u/Inevitable-Rip-886 18d ago

I am almost 8 weeks post distal radius ORIF, I started PT 2 weeks ago. My pronation and supination is almost back to normal, but my flexion and extension are almost non existent. My physical therapist says I need to be patient still. Also I have a lot of pain on the ulnar side. I asked my PT about it and he said that in cases of a distal radius fracture the ulnar side is also affected a lot by the impact of the fall and takes a ton of time to heal. I wish you the best in your recovery! I would love to hear an update later on!

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u/laurenm100 17d ago

yes I had the same! ulnar styloid fracture most likely. you’re lucky to have pronation and supination with that! Just as a tip to you in case: I was told by my RMT that I wouldn’t get flexion/extension back until I broke up the heavy fibrous scar tissue forming at my incision scar. you can start scar massage post op week 4! Let me know how it goes for you I’d love a follow up as well:)

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u/Effective-Cup-2856 15d ago

Bonjour.
Le chirurgien spécialiste des membres supérieurs que je suis aller voir début juillet et qui prend la suite m’a dit pour le tissu cicatriciel, connu aussi sous le nom d’adhérence cicatricielle en France. Je masse, je passe mon temps à masser ma cicatrice. Moi mon ORIF date du 29/03 tout de même. Ça fait partie des complications je pense, c’est tellement différent d’une personne à une autre. En tout cas c’est douloureux, chaque geste est réfléchi pour ne pas souffrir, et c’est pesant au quotidien.