Distal Radius Fracture

A distal radius fracture is a common bone fracture of the radius in the forearm. Because of its proximity to the wrist joint, this injury is often called a wrist fracture. Treatment is usually with immobilization, although surgery is sometimes needed for complex fractures.

Specific types of distal radius fractures are Colles' fracture; Smith's fracture; Barton's fracture; Chauffeur's fracture (so called because the crank used to start old cars often kicked back and broke the chauffeurs' wrists with a particular pattern). Most of these names are applied to specific patterns of distal radius fracture but confusion exists because "Colles' fracture" is used (for example by the US National Library of Medicine ) as a generic term for distal radius fracture.