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Fracture, Distal Radius, Sports Medicine

Kevin B. Gebke, MD and Dina Elnaggar, MD, MS Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Classically, the fractured distal portion will be dorsally displaced and angulated (“silver-fork deformity”); commonly referred to as Colles fracture

  • Other variations include:

    • Smith fr...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Elicit specific details regarding fall or trauma involved in high- or low-energy mechanism.

  • Comorbid conditions such as osteoporosis or malignancy

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Key is to always describe...

TREATMENT

Treatment of the fractures may vary significantly based on the type of fracture, patient demands, and physician experience: 
  • Analgesia:

    • Adequate pain relief using oral and/or intravenous (IV) ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Most patients should be reexamined and x-rays repeated in 3 to 5 days for nondisplaced and 2 to 3 days for displaced fractures to ensure fracture stability.

  • Splint...

REFERENCES

1
Wulf CA, Ackerman DB, Rizzo M. Contemporary evaluation and treatment of distal radius fractures. Hand Clin.  2007;23(2):209–226, vi.
2
Court-Brown CM, Wood AM, Aitken S. The epidemiolog...

ADDITIONAL READING

LaMartina J, Jawa A, Stucken C, et al. Predicting alignment after closed reduction and casting of distal radius fractures. J Hand Surg Am.  2015;40(4):934–939. 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Swelling and pain over the physis may indicate a physeal injury even with normal radiographs.

  • Physical exam and radiographic analysis are key to determining management of distal radius ...

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