This is the most common fracture in the forearm/wrist/hand region. The site of the fracture is roughly 2 inches superior to the head of the radius and sometimes may involve ulnar fracture. The Colles fracture is a dorsally angulated fracture. The Smith fracture is the reverse of the Colles fracture. The Smith fracture leaves a volarly angulated fracture of the radius. The cause of the Colles fracture is a fall on an outstretched hand with wrist extension. The Smith fracture occurs as a result of a fall on an outstretched hand with the wrist flexed.
