The field of orthopedics has become so advanced that we have a specific name for almost all types of breaks that occur in our bones. This makes it easy for the surgeons to identify the condition and provide the best treatment to fix the fracture. One such condition that we are going to talk about in this post is Smith’s fracture.

Named after an Irish surgeon Robert William Smith in 1847, this condition is also known as Goyrand fracture in French literature as it was first named after Jean-Gaspard-Blaise Goyrand, a French Physician. Let us see what Smith’s Fracture is.

Smith’s Fracture – An Overview

Our arm has two bones, Radius, and Ulna. The former one is larger than the latter. The fracture occurring in the distal radius is known as Smith’s fracture. The end of the radius towards the hand is its distal end, and in the case of Smith’s fracture, the break occurs at that end only. Palmar angulation of the distal fragment is also noticed in the case of Smith’s fracture. The broken bone pieces in this case get displaced towards the palm. If the bone fragments are displaced too much, surgical intervention using orthopedic devices will be required. To get quality implants, find reliable companies manufacturing trauma instruments and implants. 

Most cases of Smith’s fracture do not involve the wrist joint as they are extra-articular. This condition is also known as reverse Colles’ fracture.

Though the radius is the commonly fractured bone in the arm, Smith's fracture is rare as it accounts only for around 3% of all fractures occurring in the radius.

Common Causes of Smith’s Fracture

There are a few common causes for Smith’s fracture:

• Falling onto a flexed wrist

• A direct blow to the back of the wrist

Besides impact, conditions like osteoporosis that result in brittle bones also make the person prone to getting Smith’s fracture. Plus, it could also take place in healthy bones due to high-impact automobile accidents like car crashes.

Symptoms of Smith’s Fracture

The symptoms of the condition are no different than the ones that are seen in other types of fractures. The ones that are experienced by the patient include:

• Intense pain the fracture site

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Tenderness

• Deformity of the wrist, especially in serious cases

Diagnosis of Smith’s Fracture

It is advised to see the doctor without wasting much time if you have fallen on your wrist and the pain is severe. Besides this, if you notice any abnormal bending of the wrist or find your fingers pink, then it is necessary to see the doctor as soon as possible.

The condition is diagnosed by doing a physical examination where the doctor will look for deformity in the wrist along with other symptoms like pain, swelling, bruising, or tenderness.

Multiple x-rays from different angles will also be ordered by the doctor to confirm whether the bone is broken, and the fractured fragments are displaced.

Treatment of Smith’s Fracture

The treatment of Smith’s fracture depends upon the age of the patient, severity, and occupational status. One of the two types of treatments can be provided depending upon the condition:

Conservative Treatment

In most cases, where the broken bone is not displaced much, closed reduction will be performed, and the surgeon will apply a cast or a splint. The closed reduction will be performed under anesthesia.

Surgery

Where the fractured bone fragments are displaced much and cannot be fixed by closed reduction, surgery will be recommended. To properly align the broken bone fragments, the surgeon will make an incision. After this, the bones are stabilized in their correct anatomical position using metal screws, pins, and plates.

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