Colles fracture is a distal radius fracture located in the forearm. This condition can cause wrist deformities, pain, swelling, and bruising.
Healthbeautyidea.com – When you experience a Colles fracture, your wrist will bend abnormally. This condition certainly feels very painful, even you may not be able to hold or grasp something.
This type of injury is more common in parents with brittle bones and children whose bones still tend to be soft. Colles fractures are very common so it’s important that you find out more.
What is Colles Fracture?
Colles fracture is a fracture of the distal radius bone located in the forearm. This condition is also called a distal radius fracture or transverse wrist fracture. The radius bone has a large size and crosses the line with the thumb. The tip of the radius bone is called a distal located near the wrist.
When the distal radius is cracked or broken, there is a deformity of the wrist that makes it look crooked and look like a fork from the side. In addition, you will also feel pain, especially when stretching your wrists, swelling, and bruising.
Colles Fracture facts
Below are some facts about colles fracture that you should know including:
- Colles fractures are also known as distal radius fractures or transverse wrist fractures.
- Anyone can have a colles fracture or broken wrist. However, this condition is more common in older persons compared to children.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in helping the healing process and reducing the likelihood of other, more serious condition’s occurrence.
- A doctor specializing in bone, known as an orthopedist, will usually perform the treatment.
Types of Colles fracture
Fractures are divided into several types based on how and where the bones break.
Types of fractures include:
- Open fracture: a condition where fractures penetrate your skin.
- Comminuted fracture: a fracture condition in which the bone splits into more than two parts.
- Intra-articular fracture: a condition where a broken bone affects the joints of your wrist.
- Extra articular fracture: a condition if a fracture does not affect your joints.
Colles Fracture Symptoms
Colles fracture signs and symptoms are:
- Pain in the wrist
- Swollen hands
- Bruises
- Abnormally bent wrist.
Visit the emergency department immediately if you experience any or some of the following symptoms:
- The wrist feels very sore
- Wrists appear deformed
- Hands and fingers numb and pale looking
Colles fracture epidemiology
Colles fractures are more common in women and are rare before the age of 50. In general the incidence is approximately 8-15% of all fractures. The incidence of Colles fractures before the age of 50 is the same between men and women.
After the age of over 50 years, this fracture is more common in women with a ratio of women than men is 5:1. Colles fractures of the right wrist more often than the left side. The most common age to suffer from Colles fracture is 50-59 years.
Pathogenesis
Generally distal radius fractures, especially Colles’ fractures can arise after the sufferer falls into the hands of the position of the distal extend and support the body.
At the time of falling part of the energy that arises absorbed by soft tissues and joints of the hands, then just passed to the distal radius, until it can cause fractures in the weak area that is between the boundary of cortical bones and spongiosa bones.
Colles Fracture Prevention
No one wants to have a wrist fracture, or Colles fracture. Well, here are the various ways that can be done to prevent Colles fracture, namely:
Meet your daily calcium and vitamin D needs
Fragile bone conditions, both in children and due to osteoporosis, can increase the risk of fractures. As a solution, always meet your daily intake of calcium and vitamin D.
Make sure you get enough calcium by eating green vegetables, milk, or low-fat dairy products. If necessary, you may also take calcium supplements. But with a note, first consult a doctor so that you get the right type and dosage of supplements for you.
As for meeting the needs of vitamin D, the easiest way is to diligently bask in the sun every morning. It can also by eating foods that source vitamin D such as salmon, beef liver, egg yolks, mushrooms, and so on.
Diligent exercise
Exercise can help increase bone and muscle strength. The more diligent the exercise, the stronger your bones will be so as to avoid the risk of falls and fractures.
There are many types of sports that you can try, one of which is jogging. Although it looks simple, jogging can help strengthen the bones and muscles of the lower body. Well, if you want to train the strength of the bones and muscles of the upper body, you can try weight lifting exercises.
Use a hand protector
Before football practice or doing activities that use a lot of wrists, try to always use hand protectors. This can help protect your wrist a little if you fall off later.
