Name of fracture of distal radius that produces 'dinner fork' appearance?

• A. Colles' fracture
• B. Smith's fracture
• C. Barton's fracture
• D. Hutchinson's fracture

Answer: (A)

Colles fracture is a distal radius fracture with dorsal displacement of the distal fragment after a fall on an outstretched hand with the wrist extended. The backward tilt of the fragment gives the classic dinner fork deformity on the lateral view—the hand and distal radius appear with the fragment angulated dorsally, producing that fork-like shape. This contrasts with a Smith fracture, which has the distal fragment displaced palmarly; Barton's fracture, which is intra-articular with radiocarpal dislocation; and Hutchinson (chauffeur’s) fracture, which involves the radial styloid and often the articular surface. The dinner fork appearance is characteristic of the Colles extension-type injury.