Colles' Fracture

A Colles fracture is a break at the distal end (near the wrist) of the Radius (one of the two forearm bones, on the thumb side of the wrist).

A colles fracture is a transverse fracture within 1 inch of the wrist joint, with (dorsal - upward) displacement of the fractured fragment.

The most frequent cause of a Colles wrist fracture is a fall onto an outstretched hand.

For more information visit:

Mr. Elliot Sorene MBBS FRCS (Tr & Orth) EDHS
is Consultant Orthopaedic, Hand & Upper Limb Surgeon at the following establishments:

The Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth 60 Grove End Road London NW8 9NH
The London Clinic 5 Devonshire Place London W1G 6HL
Spire Bushey Hospital Heathbourne Road Watford, Hertfordshire WD23 1RD

[iluvJosh]

its called a colles fracture because it is named from the person who diagnosed it by the look of it on an x ray

[LinusASDF]

ugh. my doctor used needles through wrist to stabilize and plastered it. i wore that for 8 weeks. i wish he knew about that plate thing. such hassle. since i'm an art student.

[paulmeiners]

If you have a choice of casting or surgery on a Colles, fracture or especially bilareral Colles fracture, go for surgery and plates/rods. Even if it cost extra go for it. With bilateral Colles, casting should not be considered, I was casted and it was an extreme nightmare., especially as a single person .An example, after casting, it require both both hands to pickup my 4 oz house keys, 30 minutes to get cloths on...everything required enormous effort.
Can't say enough for surgery/plate/rods. If I had only known the results when I had bilateral Colles fractures I would have fought for surgery instead of casting. World of difference, so much less pain, far less rehab, extremely fast recovery. With my present break (ulna near elbow) rehab was not needed, (exercise/use was still needed).

[dorothywilliamswilliams]

Needed a visual for my cen examination thanks

[maggiemua]

I have this problem and I will have a surgery this week 😔

[evarossanna]

I broke my distal radius and had an operation and I've just been told I can take off my brace. but nobody told me that I could start using my hand right after my operation I thought I had to immobilise it for the full extent of the 8 weeks that I was on the brace and as a result my wrist is stiff and painful and I'm having to do physiotherapy for it so if that was explained to me sooner I probably would already be able to use my hand :( I had the plate with screws btw