• Colles (most common accounting for 90%)
• Smiths
• Bartons

Classification

Colles

• A Colles’ fracture* describes an extra-articular fracture of the distal radius with dorsal angulation and dorsal displacement, within 2cm of the articular surface. This type of fracture typically occurs as a “fragility fracture” in osteoporotic bone.

Smiths

• This describes the volar angulation of the distal fragment of an extra-articular fracture of the distal radius (the reverse of a Colles fracture), with or without volar displacement.

Bartons

• This is an intra-articular fracture of the distal radius with associated dislocation of the radio-carpal joint.
• A Barton fracture can be described as volar (more common) or dorsal (less common), depending on whether the volar or dorsal rim of the radius is involved.

Risk factors

• Increasing age
• female
• early menopause
• smoking/alcohol use
• prolonged steroid use