This fracture was first defined by Abraham Colles.
The term Colles’ fracture is classically used to describe a fracture at the distal end of the radius, at its cortico-cancellous junction.
Classical Colles fractures have the following characteristics
- Transverse fracture of the radius
- One inch (2.5 cm) proximal to the radio-carpal joint
- Dorsally displaced and dorsally angulated
Colles’ fracture have following deformities
- Dorsal tilt
- Radial shortening
- Loss of radial inclination
- Ulnar angulation of the wrist
- Dorsal displacement of the distal fragment
- Comminution at the fracture site
- Associated fracture of the ulnar styloid
Xray of a Colles' fracture
A classical Colles fracture occurs in elderly people because the cortex of the bone is weak. Young people need more severe trauma to injure and usually have other pattren of distal end radius fractures.
Colles’ fracture is very common in postmenopausal women.
The fracture is most commonly caused by people falling backward onto a hard surface with extended outstretched hands.
Treatment
Most of the Colles’ fractures are treated by closed reduction and splintage. Surgical treatment is rarely required in cases which are not amenable to closed reduction and open fractures
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