Orthopaedic Quiz 3
A 55yo female presents to the ED with the following x-ray following a fall.
Frontal
Case Source
Lateral
Question 1
What type of fracture(s) is seen on this x-ray?
Hover over the icon for the answer:
Colles fracture (distal radius fracture with dorsal angulation of fractured bone) + transverse fracture through ulnar styloid process
Question 2
What is the most common mechanism of injury for this type of fracture?
Answer:
Fall on outstretched hand (FOOSH) with forearm pronated and wrist dorsiflexed.
Question 3
What is the difference between the above type of fracture and a Smith’s fracture?
Answer:
Smith's fracture is a transverse fracture of the distal radius with PALMAR angulation of the fractured bone. It is caused by a fall on a FLEXED wrist or a blow to the dorsal forearm. It is much less common than a Colle's fracture.
A young male presents to the ED following a fall whilst playing sports.
Frontal
Case Source
Lateral
Question 4
What type of fracture(s) is seen in this x-ray?
Answer:
Galeazzi fracture: radius fracture with distal radioulnar dislocation
Question 5
Contrast the above x-ray with the following x-ray. What is this type of fracture called and what is the difference?
Frontal
Case Source
Lateral
Answer:
Monteggia fracture: ulnar fracture with proximal radial head dislocation. One mnemonic to remember the difference between galeazzi and monteggia fractures is GRIMUS (G-Galeazzi, R-Radius, I-Inferior; M-Monteggia, U-Ulnar, S-Superior).