Distal radial fracture (summary)
Updates to Article Attributes
Distal radial fractures are relatively common group of injuries that usually occur following a fall. The commonest of these fractures is a transverse extra-articular fracture and where there is associated dorsal angulation, this is termed a colles fracture.
Reference article
This is a summary article. For more information, you can read a more in-depth reference articles: distal radial fracture, Colles fracture.
Summary
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epidemiology
- bimodal age and sex distribution
- younger males in high energy mechanisms
- older females after simple falls
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presentation
- fall onto an outstretched hand with pain and deformity
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pathologypathophysiology- after FOOSH force transmitted through wrist
- direct blow to the wrist may also result in a fracture
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radiologyinvestigation- wrist series (AP and lateral)
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treatment
- often treatment is conservative with immobilisation in a cast
- if there is deformity and fracture angulation reduction is required
- in some cases, internal fixation is needed
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
The commonest fracture of the distal radius is a transverse extra-articular fracture which is usually seen as a transverse lucency across the distal radius in the region of the metaphysis.
If there is impaction, the fracture may be seen as a sclerotic line.
Transverse fractures may be angulated - dorsal angulation is commonest (a Colles fracture). There may be fracture extension into the joint which is important to pick up.
Read more
-<p><strong>Distal radial fractures</strong> are relatively common group of injuries that usually occur following a fall. The commonest of these fractures is a transverse extra-articular fracture and where there is associated dorsal angulation, this is termed a colles fracture.</p><h4>Summary</h4><ul>- +<p><strong>Distal radial fractures</strong> are relatively common group of injuries that usually occur following a fall. The commonest of these fractures is a transverse extra-articular fracture and where there is associated dorsal angulation, this is termed a colles fracture.</p><h4>Reference article</h4><p>This is a <a href="/articles/summary-article">summary article</a>. For more information, you can read a more in-depth reference articles: <a href="/articles/distal-radial-fracture">distal radial fracture</a>, <a href="/articles/colles-fracture">Colles fracture</a>.</p><h4>Summary</h4><ul>
-<strong>pathology</strong><ul>- +<strong>pathophysiology</strong><ul>
-<strong>radiology</strong><ul><li>wrist series (AP and lateral)</li></ul>- +<strong>investigation</strong><ul><li>wrist series (AP and lateral)</li></ul>
-</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><ul><li><a href="/articles/wrist-radiograph-summary-approach">wrist x-ray review</a></li></ul><p>The commonest fracture of the distal radius is a transverse extra-articular fracture which is usually seen as a transverse lucency across the distal radius in the region of the metaphysis.</p><p>If there is impaction, the fracture may be seen as a sclerotic line.</p><p>Transverse fractures may be angulated - dorsal angulation is commonest (a Colles fracture). There may be fracture extension into the joint which is important to pick up.</p><h4>Read more</h4><ul>-<li><a href="/articles/distal-radial-fracture">distal radial fractures</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/colles-fracture">colles fracture</a></li>-</ul>- +</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><ul><li><a href="/articles/wrist-radiograph-approach">wrist x-ray review</a></li></ul><p>The commonest fracture of the distal radius is a transverse extra-articular fracture which is usually seen as a transverse lucency across the distal radius in the region of the metaphysis.</p><p>If there is impaction, the fracture may be seen as a sclerotic line.</p><p>Transverse fractures may be angulated - dorsal angulation is commonest (a Colles fracture). There may be fracture extension into the joint which is important to pick up.</p>