Colles fracture orthopedics ,fractures all about mcq detail note

1,245 views November 20, 2025
Below is your **complete, concise but fully detailed medical reference on *Colles Fracture*** following your preferred pattern (definition → pathophysiology → causes → full clinical features → investigations → differential diagnoses → management with drug details → counselling).

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# **COLLES FRACTURE — Complete Medical Reference**

## **1. Definition**

A **Colles fracture** is a **transverse distal radius fracture**, occurring **~2–3 cm proximal to the wrist joint**, with:

* **Dorsal displacement**,
* **Dorsal angulation**,
* **Radial deviation** of the distal fragment.
Classically described as **“dinner-fork deformity.”**

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## **2. Pathophysiology**

* Caused by **fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH)** with wrist in **extension**.
* Axial loading forces cause:

* Fracture of distal radius metaphysis
* Dorsal displacement/tilt of distal fragment
* Often associated injuries:

* **Ulnar styloid fracture**
* **DRUJ sprain**
* **Median nerve compression** (carpal tunnel)

Bone quality plays a major role (osteoporosis, elderly).

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## **3. Causes / Risk Factors**

### **Trauma**

* Fall on outstretched hand (most common)
* High-velocity trauma in young adults
* Road traffic accidents

### **Bone Health**

* Osteoporosis (post-menopausal women)
* Chronic steroid therapy
* Vitamin D deficiency

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## **4. Clinical Features**

### **Symptoms**

* Wrist pain
* Swelling
* Inability to grip or move wrist
* Pain worsening with supination/pronation

### **Signs**

* **Dinner-fork deformity** (dorsal angulation)
* Swelling & bruising
* Tenderness over distal radius
* Crepitus
* Assess neurovascular status:

* **Median nerve compression symptoms**: paresthesia over thumb, index, middle fingers

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## **5. Investigations**

### **X-Ray (gold standard)**

* AP and lateral wrist
* Shows:

* Transverse fracture 2–3 cm proximal to radius end
* Dorsal displacement
* Dorsal angulation
* Radial shortening
* Ulnar variance
* Check for: DRUJ injury, ulnar styloid fracture

### **CT Scan**

* For intra-articular extension or pre-operative planning.

### **Others**

* DEXA scan in elderly to assess osteoporosis.

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## **6. Differential Diagnoses**

* Smith fracture (reverse Colles; **volar displacement**)
* Barton fracture (intra-articular rim fracture)
* Chauffeur fracture (radial styloid)
* Scaphoid fracture
* Wrist dislocation

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## **7. Management**

### **A. Emergency Management**

1. **Pain control**

* **Paracetamol**
* **NSAIDs**: e.g., Ibuprofen 400 mg TID
* **Opioids** if severe: Tramadol 50 mg

2. **Immobilization**

* Sugar-tong splint
* Ice and elevation

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## **B. Definitive Treatment**

### **1. Closed Reduction + Casting (most cases)**

Indications:

* Extra-articular
* <20° dorsal angulation
* <5 mm radial shortening
* Stable post-reduction

Steps:

* Hematoma block/local anesthesia
* Closed reduction with traction
* **Below-elbow cast** for 4–6 weeks
* Check X-ray at 1 week to ensure position

### **2. Surgical Management (ORIF)**

Indications:

* Unstable fracture
* Intra-articular involvement
* Failure of closed reduction
* Severe displacement
* Osteoporotic bones
* DRUJ instability

Procedures:

* **Volar locking plate fixation (preferred)**
* External fixation
* Percutaneous K-wires

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## **8. Drug Details (as per your required pattern)**

### **NSAIDs – Ibuprofen**

* **Indication:** Pain/inflammation in fractures
* **MOA:** COX-1/COX-2 inhibition
* **Dose:** 400–600 mg TID (adult)
* **PK:** Oral absorption; metabolized in liver; renal excretion
* **Common AEs:** Gastritis, dyspepsia
* **Serious AEs:** GI bleeding, renal failure
* **Contra:** Peptic ulcer, CKD
* **Interactions:** Anticoagulants ↑ bleeding
* **Monitoring:** Renal function
* **Counselling:** Take with food

### **Paracetamol**

* **Dose:** 500–1000 mg q6h (max 4 g/day)
* **Safe in:** Elderly, kids (15 mg/kg/dose)

### **Tramadol**

* **MOA:** μ-opioid agonist + SNRI action
* **Dose:** 50–100 mg q6h (max 400 mg/day)
* **AEs:** Nausea, dizziness, constipation
* **Warning:** Avoid with SSRIs (serotonin syndrome)

### **Calcium & Vitamin D**

* **Indication:** Osteoporosis prevention
* **Dose:**

* Calcium 500 mg BID
* Vitamin D3 60,000 IU weekly × 8 weeks
* **Counselling:** Sunlight exposure, fall prevention

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## **9. Complications**

### **Early**

* Median nerve compression
* Compartment syndrome
* Loss of reduction
* DRUJ instability

### **Late**

* Malunion (persistent dinner-fork deformity)
* Decreased grip strength
* Stiffness
* Carpal tunnel syndrome
* Post-traumatic arthritis

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## **10. Patient Counselling**

* Keep the cast dry
* Elevate the hand first 48 hours
* Move fingers frequently to prevent stiffness
* Return immediately if:

* Numbness/tingling
* Blue fingers
* Severe pain
* Fall prevention in elderly
* Manage osteoporosis to prevent future fractures

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If you want, I can also generate:

✅ **Colles fracture 25 MCQs**
✅ **HTML-CSS-JS one-file interactive MCQ test**
✅ **Medical diagram**
✅ **JSON-LD structured data**
Just tell me!

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Comments (3)

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Medical Student

This was incredibly helpful for my upcoming exam. Thank you!

2 days ago
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Nursing Professional

Great explanation of the ECG changes in hyperkalemia!

1 week ago