Surgery to correct a distal radius fracture is usually done as a daycase operation under either general anaesthetic (with you asleep) or regional anaesthetic (with you awake or under sedation, and the nerves to the hand blocked with anaesthetic). A cut is made along the length of the wrist, often from the front, but sometimes from the back. The muscle is moved out the way, and the position of the bone is corrected. An intra-operative x-ray machine is used to confirm the position. The plate is then positioned, and screws are inserted into the different fragments in order to hold them in position. The skin is repaired, and a temporary half plaster cast is usually positioned.
For more information see:-
https://rupertwharton.com/pages/wrist-fractures
https://rupertwharton.com/blogs/distal-radius-fractures
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Rupert Wharton, Hand surgeon in Central London (King Edward VII) and South West London (New Victoria and Kingston Private Health)