A Barton fracture is a painful, dislocated wrist fracture that causes swelling and numb or tingling fingertips. This type of broken bone can happen if you land on the top of your bent wrist. Treatment is immediate surgery to realign the bones and connect them back together.
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A Barton fracture is where you break part of your wrist and knock another part out of place. It usually happens when you fall on top of your bent wrist.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
The part of your wrist that breaks (your distal radius) is also part of your forearm. Your radius is the most commonly broken arm bone. These breaks make up about 20% of all broken bones.
There are two types of Barton fractures. If the bump is on the back of your hand, it’s called a dorsal Barton fracture. If the bump is on the palm side, it’s called a volar or reverse Barton fracture. Reverse fractures happen more often.
Barton fractures can happen to anyone because anyone can fall. But, 70% of the time, this kind of fracture happens to young men who are either manual workers or motorcyclists. They get hurt on the job or in an accident.
You’re also at a higher risk if you have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens your bones. Weak bones are more likely to break. If you're over 50, then you're at an increased risk for this disease.
Barton fractures are rare. There are many other, more common wrist fractures.
A fall is almost always the cause of this kind of fracture. Car and motorcycle accidents can also cause this break.
Barton fracture symptoms are about the same as of other types of distal radius breaks. The symptoms include:
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When you see your healthcare provider, they’ll want you to list your symptoms, describe how bad they are and explain how you hurt your wrist. Your provider will order an X-ray to make sure that you have a broken bone and to figure out the type of break. The X-ray will also show them:
You might need a CT scan or MRI. These tests check for problems with your tendons, muscles and ligaments.
Your healthcare provider will place your wrist in a splint and then refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon. Orthopaedic surgeons treat problems with your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues. You’ll likely need a surgical procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).
An ORIF puts the bone fragments of your wrist back together. There are two steps:
Your healthcare provider might tell you to take medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) to help with the pain.
If you don’t get surgery, you’ll have to wear a cast around your wrist for about six weeks and then go to physical therapy. At therapy, you'll work on your wrist movement and strength. You may feel better in a few months, but healing can take a year. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about when you can resume exercise, and when you get back to contact sports like soccer or hockey.
Be extra careful when you're playing sports, working manual labor, riding a motorcycle or climbing something high like a ladder. If you’re at higher risk for osteoporosis, eliminate tripping hazards in your home. Be sure to always use your cane or walker if you use one.
Most people go back to their usual daily activities after a Barton fracture.
Sometimes problems happen after surgery (complications). Possible Barton fracture complications include:
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Talk with your healthcare provider if you're worried about complications. Some treatments can help.
If you’re 50 or older and you’ve had a bone fracture, your primary healthcare provider might want to test you for osteoporosis. A fracture could mean your bones are weak.
It's best to go to the emergency department if you think you have a broken wrist — especially if your pain is really bad, your wrist looks different, is numb or your fingers are a different color than they usually are.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
If you fall on your bent wrist, you could break part of it and move another part out of place. If the joint seems out of place, you might have a Barton fracture. X-rays help healthcare providers figure out the kind of break, and the healing starts with surgery.
Go to your nearest emergency department right away if you have symptoms of a Barton fracture. Breaks are treatable, and quick treatment can lessen the pain and start healing.
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Last reviewed on 12/27/2021.
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