$colles fracture definition$ $colles fracture definition$

Colles fracture definition skin#

Most fractures hurt moderately for a few days to a couple of weeks. The kinds of distal radius fractures are so varied and the treatment options are so broad that it is hard to describe what to expect. Unfortunately it does not have a simple answer. In the operating room, your orthopaedic surgeon may choose to hold the bone in the correct position with only a cast, or by inserting metal (usually stainless steel or titanium) pins, a plate and screws, an external fixator, or any combination of these techniques. There are many ways of performing surgery, including reducing the fracture in the operating room without making an incision (closed reduction), or by making an incision (open reduction) to improve the alignment of the bone. If your orthopaedic surgeon feels that the position of the bone is not acceptable for the future function of your arm, and that it cannot be corrected or kept corrected in a cast, he or she may recommend an operation. At that point, physical therapy is often started to help improve motion and function of the injured wrist. The cast is removed about six weeks after the fracture happened. X-rays are taken, depending on the nature of the facture, either at weekly intervals for three weeks and then at six weeks (if the fracture was reduced or felt to be unstable), or less often if the fracture was not reduced and thought to be stable. A cast is usually added a few days to a week or so later, after the swelling goes down, and changed two or three weeks later as the swelling goes down more and the cast gets loose. A splint is usually used for the first few days, to allow for a small amount of normal swelling. After the bone is properly aligned, a splint or cast may be placed on your arm.

Colles fracture definition skin#

If the bone is straightened out (reduced) without cutting into the skin (incision), this is called a closed reduction. Or if the position (alignment) of your bone is not good and likely to limit the future use of your arm, your orthopaedic surgeon may suggest correcting the deformity (the medical term for correcting the deformed bone is reduction). Your doctor may apply a plaster cast until the bone heals. One choice is to leave the bone the way it is, if the bone is in a pretty good position. The following is a general discussion of the possible options, just so you have a better idea of what your orthopaedic surgeon might recommend for you. The choice depends on many factors, such as the nature of your fracture, your age and activity level, and your surgeon's personal preferences. Your orthopaedic surgeon will describe what options are right for you. Wrist guards worn on the forearms may help to prevent some fractures, but they will not prevent them all. Older patients who have problems keeping their balance need special attention to prevent falls. The best prevention is to maintain good bone health and avoid osteoporosis and falls. They can happen even in healthy bones if the trauma was severe enough (for example, a car accident or a fall off a bike). Many distal radius fractures in people over 60 are due to osteoporosis (decreased density of the bones) if the fall was relatively minor (a fall from a standing position). A fracture is more difficult to treat if it is intra-articular, open or comminuted. If the bone is broken into more than two pieces, it is called a comminuted fracture. ('Articular' means 'joint.') If the fractured bone breaks the skin, it is called an open fracture. If the fracture extends into the joint, it is called an intra-articular fracture if it does not, it is called an extra-articular fracture. The fracture is almost always about 1 inch from the end of the bone. The doctor will take an X-ray of the wrist.

$colles fracture definition$

This fracture was first described by an Irish surgeon and anatomist, Abraham Colles, in 1814 hence the name, 'Colles' ' fracture.Ī broken wrist usually causes pain and swelling, and frequently causes a deformity, causing the wrist to look bent. When this happens, it is called a distal ulna fracture. Sometimes, the other forearm bone (the ulna) is also broken. It can also happen in a car accident, a bike accident, a skiing accident, and similar situations. The break usually happens when you fall and land on your outstretched hands. In fact, the radius is the most commonly broken bone in the arm.

$colles fracture definition$

Therefore, the medical term for the most common type of 'broken wrist' is a distal radius fracture (that is, the larger forearm bone is broken near the wrist). The medical term for 'broken bone' is fracture.

$colles fracture definition$

The end of the bone nearest the wrist is called the distal end. When someone falls on their outstretched hand, they sometimes get a 'broken wrist.' The bone that is usually broken is called the radius.

$colles fracture definition$