eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Musculoskeletal

Radius, Distal Fractures: Multimedia

Author: Browyn Richards, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Family Practice, Boone Branch Medical Clinic, Portsmouth Naval Hospital
Coauthor(s): Ricardo Riego de Dios, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Naval Air Station; William D Craig, MD, MBA, Chairman and Registrar and GU Section Head, Department of Radiologic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 18, 2009

Multimedia

Radial height (RH) is measured by drawing 2 paral...
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Media file 1: Radial height (RH) is measured by drawing 2 parallel lines perpendicular to the long axis of the radius. Shortening of RH may indicate impaction of the radial head when compared with a normal contralateral wrist. Ulnar variance (UV) is measured here by using the method of perpendiculars, in which 2 lines are drawn perpendicular to the long axis of the radius. One line is drawn on the ulnar-side articular surface of the radius, and the other is drawn on the ulnar carpal surface. This image demonstrates ulnar plus variance.
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Radial height (RH) is measured by drawing 2 paral...

Radial height (RH) is measured by drawing 2 parallel lines perpendicular to the long axis of the radius. Shortening of RH may indicate impaction of the radial head when compared with a normal contralateral wrist. Ulnar variance (UV) is measured here by using the method of perpendiculars, in which 2 lines are drawn perpendicular to the long axis of the radius. One line is drawn on the ulnar-side articular surface of the radius, and the other is drawn on the ulnar carpal surface. This image demonstrates ulnar plus variance.

Posteroanterior view of an adult's left wrist dem...
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Media file 2: Posteroanterior view of an adult's left wrist demonstrates an impacted distal radial fracture. Measurement of radial shortening and comparison with the contralateral normal wrist aids in the diagnosis.
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Posteroanterior view of an adult's left wrist dem...

Posteroanterior view of an adult's left wrist demonstrates an impacted distal radial fracture. Measurement of radial shortening and comparison with the contralateral normal wrist aids in the diagnosis.

The radial inclination is measured by drawing a l...
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Media file 3: The radial inclination is measured by drawing a line perpendicular to the long axis of the radius and a tangential line from the radial styloid to the ulnar corner of the lunate fossa.
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The radial inclination is measured by drawing a l...

The radial inclination is measured by drawing a line perpendicular to the long axis of the radius and a tangential line from the radial styloid to the ulnar corner of the lunate fossa.

The volar tilt, or palmar inclination, is an angl...
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Media file 4: The volar tilt, or palmar inclination, is an angle between a line drawn perpendicular to the long axis of the radius and a tangential line drawn along the radial articular surface.
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The volar tilt, or palmar inclination, is an angl...

The volar tilt, or palmar inclination, is an angle between a line drawn perpendicular to the long axis of the radius and a tangential line drawn along the radial articular surface.

Lateral view of the wrist demonstrates a Colles f...
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Media file 5: Lateral view of the wrist demonstrates a Colles fracture (in which there is a dorsal angulation of the fracture fragment).
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Lateral view of the wrist demonstrates a Colles f...

Lateral view of the wrist demonstrates a Colles fracture (in which there is a dorsal angulation of the fracture fragment).

Smith fracture (in which there is a volar displac...
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Media file 6: Smith fracture (in which there is a volar displacement of the distal fracture fragment).
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Smith fracture (in which there is a volar displac...

Smith fracture (in which there is a volar displacement of the distal fracture fragment).

Illustration of the Thomas classification of Smit...
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Media file 7: Illustration of the Thomas classification of Smith fractures.
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Illustration of the Thomas classification of Smit...

Illustration of the Thomas classification of Smith fractures.

Posteroanterior radiograph of a Barton fracture. ...
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Media file 8: Posteroanterior radiograph of a Barton fracture. Note the intra-articular fracture of the radius with the widening of the space between the scaphoid and lunate structures.
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Posteroanterior radiograph of a Barton fracture. ...

Posteroanterior radiograph of a Barton fracture. Note the intra-articular fracture of the radius with the widening of the space between the scaphoid and lunate structures.

Lateral radiograph of a Barton fracture. Note the...
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Media file 9: Lateral radiograph of a Barton fracture. Note the volar displacement of the scaphoid associated with an intra-articular distal radial fracture.
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Lateral radiograph of a Barton fracture. Note the...

Lateral radiograph of a Barton fracture. Note the volar displacement of the scaphoid associated with an intra-articular distal radial fracture.

Posteroanterior view of the left wrist demonstrat...
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Media file 10: Posteroanterior view of the left wrist demonstrates buckle fractures of the distal radius and ulna.
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Posteroanterior view of the left wrist demonstrat...

Posteroanterior view of the left wrist demonstrates buckle fractures of the distal radius and ulna.

Axial computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates ...
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Media file 11: Axial computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates a comminuted distal radial fracture.
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Axial computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates ...

Axial computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates a comminuted distal radial fracture.

Coronal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrate...
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Media file 12: Coronal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates intra-articular involvement in a distal radial fracture.
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Coronal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrate...

Coronal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates intra-articular involvement in a distal radial fracture.

Sagittal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrat...
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Media file 13: Sagittal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates a comminuted distal radial fracture with intra-articular involvement.
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Sagittal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrat...

Sagittal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrates a comminuted distal radial fracture with intra-articular involvement.

More on Radius, Distal Fractures

Overview: Radius, Distal Fractures
Imaging: Radius, Distal Fractures
Follow-up: Radius, Distal Fractures
Multimedia: Radius, Distal Fractures
References
Further Reading
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References

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Keywords

distal radius fracture, broken wrist, broken arm, wrist fractures, forearm fractures, Colles' fracture, Colles fracture, Smith's fracture, Smith fracture, Barton's fracture, Barton fracture, chauffeur's fracture, Hutchinson's fracture, Hutchinson fracture, Galeazzi's fracture, Galeazzi fracture, Piedmont fracture, Essex-Lopresti injury, die-punch fractures, radial styloid, buckle fracture, greenstick fracture

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Browyn Richards, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Family Practice, Boone Branch Medical Clinic, Portsmouth Naval Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ricardo Riego de Dios, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Naval Air Station
Ricardo Riego de Dios, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

William D Craig, MD, MBA, Chairman and Registrar and GU Section Head, Department of Radiologic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
William D Craig, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Uroradiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Leon Lenchik, MD, Director, Densitometry Minifellowship, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University Medical Center
Leon Lenchik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Theodore E Keats, MD, Professor, Departments of Radiology and Orthopedics, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Felix S Chew, MD, MBA, EdM, Professor, Department of Radiology, Vice Chairman for Radiology Informatics, Section Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology, University of Washington
Felix S Chew, MD, MBA, EdM is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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