Colles' fracture

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox | }} A Colles' fracture is a fracture of the distal radius bone. For more detailed discussion see distal radius fracture.

It is named after Abraham Colles (1773-1843), an Irish surgeon who first described this in 1814.

Causes

The fracture is most commonly caused by people falling forward onto a hard surface and breaking their fall with extended, outstretched hands - falling with wrists flexed would lead to a Smith's fracture. It usually occurs about an inch or two proximal to the radio-carpal joint with posterior and lateral displacement of the distal fragment resulting in the characteristic dinner fork like deformity.

Treatment

Treatment of depends on the severity of the fracture. An undisplaced fracture may be treated with a cast alone. A fracture with mild angulation and displacement may require closed reduction. Significant angulation and deformity may require an open reduction and internal fixation or external fixation.