Orthopedics Hand & Wrist Hand & Wrist Fractures Print What You Should Know About Smith's Fractures Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Written by twitter linkedin Written by Jonathan Cluett, MD Dr. Jonathan Cluett is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Learn about our editorial policy Jonathan Cluett, MD Updated on April 12, 2019 MedicalRF.com/Getty Images More in Orthopedics Hand & Wrist Hand & Wrist Fractures Finger Conditions Wrist Conditions Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Dupuytren's Contracture Sprains & Strains Fractures & Broken Bones Physical Therapy Orthopedic Surgery Osteoporosis Pediatric Orthopedics Sports Injuries Shoulder & Elbow Hip & Knee Leg, Foot & Ankle Assistive Devices & Orthotics Medication & Injections View All The Smith's fracture is a specific type of injury to the forearm bone (the radius) near the wrist joint. In this injury, there is displacement of the bone such that the wrist joint rests in front of its normal anatomic position. The injury is most commonly found after falling on to the back of the hand, or by falling with the hand planted on the ground with your body twisting around the hand. A Smith's fracture is also sometimes referred to as a reverse Colles' fracture. The Colles' fracture is also a type of distal radius fracture, but the bone is pushed back rather than pushed forward. Types of Wrist Fractures The wrist joint is the junction of the forearm with the hand. The joint is formed by the two forearm bones (the radius and the ulna) joining together with the small bones of the wrist. Generally, when someone is describing a wrist fracture, they are talking about an injury to the end of the radius bone. However, the word wrist fracture can be used to describe other fractures such as scaphoid fractures, distal ulna fractures, and other bone injuries around the wrist joint. Distal radius fractures can occur in many different types, and the specific type of fracture can help to determine the best treatment. There are a number of factors specific to the fracture that can influence decisions about ideal treatment; some of these factors include: Fracture displacement (How far out of position are the bones?)Fracture extension/joint involvement (Does the fracture enter the joint surface?)Fracture stability (How likely are the bones to stay in position?) In addition, there are a number of issues specific to patients that can influence the decision on how to best treat the specific fracture. Some of these considerations include: Age of the patientThe activity level of the patientHand-dominanceOther medical issues (such as diabetes, tobacco use, malnutrition) Treatment Because Smith's fracture is quite unstable, this injury almost always needs surgical stabilization by some method. If the fracture is displaced from its normal position, it will generally need to be secured in position with metal implants, typically a plate and screws. Other options to stabilize the fracture include pins inserted through the skin and external fixation. Most patients prefer the plate and screws since the fracture is well secured, and they can begin early efforts to improve the mobility of the joint. While casting may be attempted, but needs to be watched carefully to ensure the fracture stays in proper position as there is a tendency for these fractures to slide back into a displaced position. Also Known As: Wrist Fracture, Broken Wrist Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lichtman DM, et al. "AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline Summary Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures" J Am Acad Orthop Surg March 2010 ; 18:180-189. Continue Reading