

Tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox is suggestive of scaphoid fracture.Īn isolated and non-complicated low energy fracture is itself a red flag: it may reflect previously undetected osteoporosis or other metabolic bone disease. Scaphoid fractures, scapholunate ligament injury, and fractures of the ulnar styloid process are injuries associated with distal radius fractures, given their anatomic proximity to the distal radius.
#COLLES SMITH FRACTURE SKIN#
skin broken or not) and whether there are associated injuries.Ĭoncomitant injuries must be excluded, including shoulder, elbow and neurovascular injuries. The classification of these fractures should consider whether they are intra- vs extra-articular displaced vs non-displaced comminuted or not open or closed (i.e. These are categorized as “fragility fractures” meaning that weakness of the bone contributes to the cause.ĭistal radius fractures are detected on imaging. from a simple fall on outstretched hand from standing height or lower.

In older people, distal radius fractures are typically lower energy injuries, i.e. In younger people, high energy injuries are more common, such as those from motor vehicle collisions, motorcycle collisions, sports, or falls from an extended height. Distal radius fractures have a bimodal distribution: one peak in the 18-25 year old age group and another in the 65 and older age group. Normal radial height is approximately 12 mm and is decreased in distal radius fractures.ĭistal radius fractures are one of the most common fractures of the upper extremity, and therefore, represent a large proportion of fractures seen by Primary Care physicians and Emergency Medicine physicians. The first line is drawn tangential to the distal tip of the radial styloid and the second tangential to the distal ulna, (Figure 2). Radial height is the distance between two parallel lines perpendicular to the long axis of the radius. Three measurements on PA films allow for characterization of the injury: radial height, radial inclination, and palmar (volar) tilt PA radiographs allow for evaluation of the integrity of the distal radio-ulnar joint, the radiocarpal joint, the proximal carpal row, and the radial and ulnar styloid processes. All three radiographs should be examined for a loss of normal anatomy, disruption of the articular surface, involvement of the distal radio-ulnar and radiocarpal joints, and evidence of comminution. PA, lateral, and oblique radiographs of the distal radius that include the carpal bones should be obtained. (The latter three should remind you of the rule "Always assess the joints above and below the known injury.")
