Distal radius fractures: Still a common problem

Distal radius fractures are those which by definition occur about one inch from the end of the bone. These, according to their displacement or tracing of the fracture, may be known by different names. There is the Poteau-Colles fracture (better known as Colles fracture), first described in 1814 by the Irish surgeon and anatomist Abraham Colles (1773--1843) and Claude Pouteau (1725--1775) in France. Within this type, we are able to identify the ‘‘dinner fork’’ deformity, which implies that its displacement is dorsal; the Smith fracture (Robert William Smith 1807--1873), often called a reverse Colles fracture, with an inverse ‘‘dinner fork’’ deformity, which represents a distal radius with volar displacements of fragments. Among the other fractures related to this zone, there is the Chauffeur fracture (or Hutchinson-Jonathan Hutchinson 1828--1913), which refers to fracture of the radial stylus with or without additional displacement; another type is the ‘‘die punch’’ fracture, which represents an intra-articular fracture of the lunate fossa of the distal radius. Last but not least, there is the Barton’s fracture/dislocation (John Rhea Barton 1794--1871), which may be volar or dorsal. This fracture is, as described by its name, a fracture of the distal radius associated with a dislocation of the radiocarpal joint, either volar or dorsal. Another way of describing these fractures may be by the involvement of articulations or soft tissues. Among the descriptions, there is the (a) intra-articular fracture: which is a fracture that extends into the radiocarpal or distal radioulnar articulation, the (b) extra-articular fracture, when the