| Download the amazing global Makindo app: Android | Apple | |
|---|---|
| MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: Educational use only. Not for diagnosis or management. See below for full disclaimer. |
Wrist Injury: Smith’s Fracture
Related Subjects: |Shoulder Anterior Dislocations |Shoulder:Posterior Dislocation |Elbow Dislocation |Olecranon Fracture |Distal Humerus Fracture |Radial Head and Neck Fractures |Forearm Fractures |Shaft of Ulna Fracture |Wrist Colles Fracture |Wrist Smith’s Fracture
| Feature | Colles’ Fracture 🖐️ | Smith’s Fracture 🔄 | Barton’s Fracture ⚙️ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type / Location | Extra-articular fracture of distal radius with dorsal angulation. | Extra-articular fracture of distal radius with volar (palmar) angulation. | Intra-articular fracture of distal radius with volar displacement of the carpus and distal fragment. |
| Mechanism of Injury | Fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) with wrist in extension. | Fall onto a flexed wrist. | Usually high-energy fall or trauma to the wrist in flexion with joint involvement. |
| Typical Deformity | “Dinner-fork” deformity (dorsal displacement of wrist and hand). | “Garden-spade” deformity (volar displacement of wrist and hand). | Often subtle deformity but radiocarpal instability present. |
| Pain & Swelling | Over distal radius; worsens with wrist movement. | Over distal radius; worsens with wrist movement. | Over wrist and radiocarpal joint line; significant tenderness. |
| Neurological / Vascular | Assess median nerve (thumb, index sensation) and pulses. | Assess median nerve (thenar motor) and vascular status. | Check both median and ulnar nerves; assess perfusion. |
| X-Ray Findings | Dorsal displacement and angulation of distal fragment. | Volar displacement and angulation of distal fragment. | Intra-articular fracture with volar displacement of carpus and distal radius fragment. |
| Stability | Usually stable after reduction. | More unstable than Colles’. | Highly unstable; always involves the joint. |
| Initial Management | Closed reduction + Colles’ backslab or below-elbow cast. | Immobilise in Colles’ backslab; urgent ortho review. | Immediate orthopaedic referral for likely surgery. |
| Definitive Treatment | Conservative if alignment acceptable; otherwise ORIF. | Often requires ORIF with volar plate fixation. | Almost always needs ORIF for joint surface restoration. |
| Mnemonic Summary | 👉 Colles = Dorsal, Extra-articular | 👉 Smith = Volar, Extra-articular | 👉 Barton = Volar, Intra-articular |
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
|
|
Categories
- A Level
- About
- Acute Medicine
- Anaesthetics and Critical Care
- Anatomy
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Book
- Cardiology
- Collections
- CompSci
- Crib Sheets
- Crib sheets
- Dental
- Dermatology
- Differentials
- Drugs
- ENT
- Education
- Electrocardiogram
- Embryology
- Emergency Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Ethics
- Foundation Doctors
- GCSE
- Gastroenterology
- General Practice
- Genetics
- Geriatric Medicine
- Guidelines
- Gynaecology
- Haematology
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Infographic
- Investigations
- Lists
- Mandatory Training
- Medical Students
- Microbiology
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Nutrition
- OSCE
- OSCEs
- Obstetrics
- Obstetrics Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Oral Medicine and Dentistry
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Palliative
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Procedures
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Resuscitation
- Revision
- Rheumatology
- Statistics and Research
- Stroke
- Surgery
- Toxicology
- Trauma and Orthopaedics
- USMLE
- Urology
- Vascular Surgery