Synonyms
Radius = spoke bone of the forearm
- Broken spoke
- Radius break
- Radial base fracture
- Radiusextension fracture
- Radial flexion fracture
- Wrist fracture
- Colles fracture
- Smith Fracture
Definition
Distal radius fractures are distal fractures of the radius bone and are usually the result of a fall on the wrist. Spoke fracture is the second most common fracture after collarbone fracture of the human body. The wrist near (distal) radius fracture at a typical location (loco typico) is the most common fracture of the human body (approx.
20-25% of all fractures). It is caused by falls with the attempt to “absorb oneself” onto the wrist, which is usually stretched (extended) and less frequently bent (flexed). The predominant radius extension fracture (fall on the extended wrist, approx.
85% of all radius fractures) occurs when the wrist is extended between 40 and 90 degrees. If the wrist is stretched even more, the carpal bones are more likely to be injured, while with less extension, the forearm or elbow are often injured. If the wrist is bent, the radius flexion fractures near the wrist are caused.
Older people with poor bone substance (osteoporosis) are more frequently affected. The reasons why patients fall are of course very different. In summer, it is often the trend sports among young people, such as skateboarding – driving or inline skating – driving, that lead to spoke fractures near the wrist, in winter, black ice plays the biggest role.
Classification
The simplest and most common classification is in: This is merely a rough fracture classification, which leaves many therapy-related questions unanswered. More detailed, but also more complicated, is the generally recognized and widely used AO classification: Classification of distal radius fractures A fracture: Radius fractureSpoke fracture without wrist involvement B fracture: Radius fracture with partial wrist involvement C fracture: Radius fracture with wrist involvement (articular) This classification allows all distal radius fractures to be imaged and concrete therapy decisions to be derived.
- Radiusextension fractures (Colles – fracture = Colles – fracture): Falling onto the extended wrist.
- Radial flexion fractures (Smith – fracture = Smith – fracture): Fall on the bent wrist
- A1 Fracture of the ulna (ulna), radius (spoke) intact
- A2 Fracture of the radius, single and impacted
- A3 Fracture of the radius multi-fragment
- B1 Fracture Saggital fracture
- B2 Fracture Dorsal fracture
- B3 Fracture Volar fracture
- C1 Fracture articular simple, metaphyseal simple (metaphyseal=shaft area near the wrist)
- C2 Fracture articular simple, metaphyseal multi-fragmental
- C3 Fracture articular and metaphyseal multi-fragment
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