my 77 year old mother broke her radious and luna bone three weeks ago...she is in a nursing home waiting to see if she needs surgury...she is a diabetic....her hand and fingers have been swollen for three weeks...is this normal for it to be swollen for this long?
Dear patient Swelling of hand and forearm occurs after every fracture of forearm bones and persists for 3 to 4 days in normal cases if treated properly.  If she is waiting for surgery due to diabetes following should be done 1. Above elbow slab should be given to splint the fracture 2.  Forearm should be kept elevated on saline stand 3. Fingers should be moved actively 4.  Medication like choral forte needs to be taken for 5 days initially. If all these things are not followed swelling persists. Another reason may be tight slab application as it hampers venous Chat Doctor.  So please check all these things and follow this properly swelling will reduce in few days. All the best.