We need you! Join our contributor community and become a WikEM editor through our open and transparent promotion process.
Smith's fracture
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Volar angulated fracture ("reverse Colles fracture" or "garden-spade deformity")
Clinical Features
- Mechanism: fall onto the dorsum of the hand with wrist in flexion, or direct blow to dorsum of hand/wrist[1]
- Wrist pain
Differential Diagnosis
Distal radius fractures
- Colles' fracture
- Smith's fracture
- Barton's fracture
- Radial styloid fracture
- Distal radioulnar joint disruption
Evaluation
- X-ray forearm/wrist
Management
- Sugar tong splint in supination[1]
- Similar to Colles' fracture
- Typically unstable and requires surgical fixation
Disposition
- Outpatient