General Timeline: 
 
Surgery:

 Immediately following surgery, your hand will be wrapped in a supportive dressing and will remain wrapped until you 3-5 day follow up with Hand Therapy 
 
3-5 day follow up visit with hand therapy:

 Incision check

 Wrist splint fabrication to be worn full time

 Post-op incision care instructions (okay to wash incision with warm water and antibacterial soap) 
 
2 week follow up visit with physician assistant:

 X-ray

 Continue hand therapy - range of motion exercises

 Home exercise program

 Continue wearing fabricated splint full time - may remove only for bathing/shower 
 

6 week follow up visit with physician assistant:

 X-ray

 Discontinue fabricated splint based on progress (typically you can stop wearing the splint at 6-8 weeks after surgery, please defer to your provider’s instructions)

 Continue hand therapy - range of motion exercises and home exercise program 
 
3 month follow up visit with physician:

 X-ray

 Range of motion check 
 
What to expect after Distal Radius Fracture ORIF Surgery: 
 
 Increased difficulty doing basic tasks (especially during the first 2 weeks post op) Pain, soreness, sensitivity, and discomfort around incision site

 Residual sensitivity around incision site

 Gradual resolution of residual stiffness, soreness over the following 6-9 months