Colles' Fracture
Sure! Here's a concise and clear note on **Colles' Fracture**:
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### **Colles' Fracture – Short Note**
**Definition:**
A Colles' fracture is a **distal radius fracture** occurring about **2.5 cm (1 inch)** proximal to the wrist joint, typically with **dorsal displacement and angulation** of the distal fragment.
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**Mechanism of Injury:**
- Usually caused by a **fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH)** with the wrist in **extension**.
- Common in **elderly females** with **osteoporosis**.
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**Clinical Features:**
- Pain, swelling, and tenderness near the wrist.
- Obvious deformity: **“Dinner fork” or “Silver fork” deformity** due to the dorsal displacement.
- Limited wrist motion and grip strength.
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**Radiological Findings:**
- Transverse fracture of distal radius.
- Dorsal displacement and angulation of distal fragment.
- Sometimes associated with fracture of the **ulnar styloid**.
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**Treatment:**
- **Closed reduction and immobilization** with a **below-elbow cast** (Colles' cast) in mild/moderate cases.
- **Surgical fixation** (e.g., ORIF with volar plate) in unstable or severely displaced fractures.
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**Complications:**
- **Malunion** (common) → persistent deformity.
- **Stiffness of the wrist**.
- **Median nerve injury** → carpal tunnel syndrome.
- **Reflex sympathetic dystrophy** (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).
- **Osteoarthritis** in the wrist joint (late complication).
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**Mnemonic for Features (COLLES):**
- **C**: Common in elderly
- **O**: Osteoporosis-related
- **L**: Lateral view shows dorsal angulation
- **L**: Loss of radial height
- **E**: Extended wrist on injury
- **S**: Silver fork deformity
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Let me know if you'd like a diagram, clinical case example, or a comparison with Smith’s fracture!
