What is the Difference Between Colles Fracture and Smith Fracture

The key difference between Colles fracture and Smith fracture is that Colles fracture is a type of wrist fracture where the broken piece of the wrist bone points backward, while Smith fracture is a type of wrist fracture where the broken piece of the wrist bone points forward.

The wrist is made up of 8 carpal bones and the radius and ulna. Wrist fractures happen due to a blunt force that causes a break in the bone. This limits mobility and gripping and causes severe pain. There are different types of wrist fracture, including Colles fracture, Smith fracture, Scaphoid fracture, Barton’s fracture, Chauffeur’s fracture, Greenstick fracture, and fracture of the ulnar styloid.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Colles Fracture 
3. What is Smith Fracture
4. Similarities – Colles Fracture and Smith Fracture
5. Colles Fracture vs Smith Fracture in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Colles Fracture vs Smith Fracture

What is Colles Fracture?

Colles fracture is a type of broken bone or fracture in the wrist. It is also called a distal fracture with an upward angle. Women who are older than 60 and suffering from osteoporosis are most likely to get a Colles fracture due to falls. It is a very painful and serious condition. Colles fracture is most probably caused by a fall or physical trauma like a car accident. The symptoms of the Colles fracture include pain, bruising, swelling, a wrist that hangs at an odd angle, and a decreased range of motion. Moreover, complications involve in Colles fracture are stiffness, compartment syndrome, malunion, median nerve palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, secondary osteoarthritis, and extensor pollicis longus tendon tear.

Colles fractures can be diagnosed through physical examination and X-ray. This is treated through pain medications, physical therapy, realigning the broken bone or fracture in the wrist by using a cast, brace, or splint or doing surgery, and after that, placing the bone in the correct position through metal pins, plates, screws, an external fixator, etc.

What is Smith Fracture?

Smith fracture is a type of broken wrist or fracture in a wrist. It is a type of distal radius fracture. Smith fracture is mainly caused by falls, car accidents, sports injuries, and other significant traumas. Typical symptoms of Smith fracture may include wrist pain, swelling, tenderness, inability to move your wrist without pain, bruising or discoloration around the wrist, and unusual deformity or bumps on the wrist. Complications involved in Smith fractures include malunion, a garden spade deformity or carpal tunnel syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, or extensor pollicis longus rupture.

Smith fracture can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests such as X-ray, CT scan, and MRI. Moreover, Smith fractures can be treated through over-the-counter pain relievers (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen), immobilization using a splint or cast, a closed reduction to set (realign) the bones, and Smith fracture surgery.

What are the Similarities Between Colles Fracture and Smith Fracture?

• Colles fracture and Smith fracture are two different types of wrist fractures.
• Both are distal radius fractures.
• They can be caused by falls.
• Both may have similar symptoms, such as wrist pain, mobility problems, etc.
• Women are affected more by both.
• Both can be diagnosed through physical examinations and imaging tests.
• Both fractures take six weeks to heal.
• They are treated through pain relievers, therapies, and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Colles Fracture and Smith Fracture?

Colles fracture is a type of wrist fracture where the broken piece of the wrist bone points backward, while Smith fracture is a type of wrist fracture where the broken piece of the wrist bone points forward. Thus, this is the key difference between Colles fracture and Smith fracture. Furthermore, Colles fractures are more common than Smith fractures.

The below infographic presents the differences between Colles fracture and Smith fracture in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Colles Fracture vs Smith Fracture

Colles fracture and Smith fracture are two different types of distal radius type wrist fractures. Both fractures may cause similar symptoms, such as wrist pain and mobility problems. However, Colles fracture is a common type of wrist fracture where the broken piece of the wrist bone points backward, while Smith fracture is a less common type of wrist fracture where the broken piece of the wrist bone points forward. So, this is the summary of the difference between Colles fracture and Smith fracture.

Reference:

1. “Colles Wrist Fracture – Aftercare.” MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
2. “Smith Fracture (Distal Radius Fracture): Definition & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Collesfracture” By Lucien Monfils – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Smith2019Frac” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia