Table of Contents
What is a Colles type fracture?
The Colles fracture is defined as a distal radius fracture with dorsal comminution, dorsal angulation, dorsal displacement, radial shortening, and an associated fracture of the ulnar styloid. [1] The term Colles fracture is often used eponymously for distal fractures with dorsal angulation.
Is Colles fracture serious?
A Colles fracture is a very painful and serious injury. Go to your nearest emergency department if you suspect you have any type of wrist fracture. Colles fractures usually occur after a fall on an outstretched hand.
Is a Colles fracture the same as a distal radius fracture?
A Colles’ wrist fracture occurs when the radius bone in your forearm breaks. It’s also known as a distal radius fracture, transverse wrist fracture, or a dinner-fork deformity of the wrist. It’s named after Abraham Colles, who wrote a paper on this type of fracture in 1814.
What are complications of Colles fracture?
Complications include 1-3: malunion resulting in dinner fork deformity. median nerve palsy and post-traumatic carpal tunnel syndrome. reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
What is Colles fracture of the wrist?
A Colles fracture is a break in the radius close to the wrist. It was named for the surgeon who first described it. Typically, the break is located about an inch (2.5 centimeters) below where the bone joins the wrist. A Colles fracture is a common fracture that happens more often in women than men.
What is Colles fracture management?
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. The volar forearm splint is best for temporary immobilisation of forearm, wrist and hand fractures, including Colles fracture.
What are the signs of a Colles fracture?
Common symptoms of a Colles fracture include:
- pain.
- swelling.
- bruising.
- tenderness.
- the wrist hanging in a deformed way.
Which nerve is affected in Colles fracture?
A Colles’ fracture is a type of fracture of the distal forearm in which the broken end of the radius is bent backwards. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, deformity, and bruising. Complications may include damage to the median nerve.
Why is Colles fracture common?
Colles fractures are most common as the result of a fall on an outstretched hand, or as the result of trauma. A Colles fracture requires the wrist be extended during the injury, while a fall on a flexed wrist would result in something called a Smith’s fracture.
How do Colles fractures happen?
A Colles fracture usually happens when someone falls on to an outstretched arm. It can also occur as a result of trauma, such as occurs in a car, bike, or skiing accident. The age of the person can affect whether or not a Colles fracture occurs.
What causes Colles fracture?
Colles’ fracture causes Colles’ fractures most often occur with a fall onto an outstretched hand. The fall sends force through the bones and displaces the distal radius toward the back of the hand or forearm. Doctors can treat most Colles’ fractures with casting or splinting.
How long do you have to wear a cast for a Colles fracture?
If you have a small fracture and the bone pieces do not move out of place, you will likely wear a splint for 3 to 5 weeks. Some breaks may require you to wear a cast for about 6 to 8 weeks. You may need a second cast if the first one gets too loose as the swelling goes down.
How to treat a Colles fracture?
Non-Surgical Colles Fracture Treatments. The first action for any wrist break is to stabilize the joint then take measures to decrease the swelling.
What exactly is a distal radius or Colles’ fracture?
Distal radius fractures are one of the most common types of bone fractures.
What are the different types of fractures?
Greenstick: A greenstick fracture occurs when there’s a crack on one side of a bone that doesn’t go all the way through it.
What is the difference between a fracture and a break?
A fracture is a broken bone and a definite break in the bone. A stress fracture is usually an incomplete fracture of the bone. The difference between the two is how the break occurs. A fracture is usually the result of an injury whereas a stress fracture is usually a result of repetitive stress (overuse).