May also be called: Broken Wrist; Colles' Fracture Fractures of the distal radius and ulna, or broken bones of the forearm, are common injuries, usually from a forward fall. More to Know The radius and the ulna are the bones of the forearm found between the elbow and wrist. The radius is the bone on the thumb side and the ulna is the bone on the little finger side. People may break both of these bones when they trip and hold an arm out to stop the fall. The distal (closest to the hand) part of the bones are most likely to be injured. Keep in Mind Doctors use casts or splints to keep bones from moving and to support injured limbs while they heal. Casts wrap around the broken area and can be made out of plaster, fiberglass, or even plastic and air (called an air cast). A splint is like a cast, but does not go all the way around the arm. Broken bones heal at different rates, depending on the age of the person and the type of fracture. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles Broken Bones Many kids will have a broken bone at some point. Here's what to expect. Read More Broken Bones Bones are tough stuff - but even tough stuff can break. Find out what happens when a bone fractures. Read More First Aid: Broken Bones A broken bone needs emergency medical care. Here's what to do if you think your child just broke a bone. Read More Broken Bones What happens when you break a bone? Read More Casts Casts keep bones and other tissues in place while they heal. Here's what to expect, and how to care for casts. Read More X-Ray Exam: Forearm A forearm X-ray can help find the causes of pain, tenderness, swelling, or deformity. It can detect broken bones, and after a broken bone has been set, help determine whether it has healed properly. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.