FRACTURE OF

DISTAL RADIUS
 General consideration
• Very common fractures

• Account for 8% whole body fractures (extremities and

spine)

• Elderly, female, menopause, osteoporosis

 Definition
• Fracture of cancellous area of distal radius, within
4cm above styloid process.

• Colles’ fracture (Pouteau - Colles) is a typical fracture

of distal radius, not articular, with lateral and dorsal
displacements.
Colles’ fracture
 Anatomy
• Flexors, extensors
• Vessels
• Nerves
Anatomy
 Mechanism of fractures
• Falling
 Two relevant types of Fractures
• Extension fracture: Colles’ fracture, distal fragment in
lateral & dorsal displacements.

• Flexion fracture: Goyrand – Smith, distal fragment in

lateral & anterior displacements.
Extension of Flexion Fractures
 Classification
• Extension

• Flexion

• Articular

• Comminuted

• Etc…
Reversed Colles’ fracture
 Clinical findings
• Pain/ tenderness

• Swelling

• Deformities
 Imageries
• Routine X-rays: AP & lateral view

• CT Scan

• MRI

• Ultrasound
X-rays of Colles’ fracture
 Treatments
• Fracture, no or minimal displacement: Plaster
casting, no reduction, 4-6 weeks.

• Acute fractures with displacements.

Anesthesia

Manipulation, plaster casting in flexion & ulnar

deviation (4-6 weeks)
Traction & manipulation
Surgical treatment

• Common nowadays

• Plate & screwing

 Rehabilitation
• Inside casting

• After removal of cast

• Postoperative
 Complications
• Compartment syndrome  Volkmann disorder

• Skin injuries

• Algodystrophia

• Stiffness of wrist, fingers

 Old unreduced fractures
• No closed manipulation

• Rehabilitation

• Operative: open reduction & Internal Fixation

(ORIF)
THANKS