| Table 1. Characteristics of Colles' fractures |
| Characteristic | Comments |
| Degree of dorsal angulation (Fig. 4, top) |
- Less likely to remain stable at higher degrees, greater risk of midcarpal instability, radiocarpal joint pain or reduced grip strength
|
| Degree of radial angulation (inclination) (Fig. 4, middle) |
- Less likely to remain stable at higher degrees
- Less significant correlation with outcome than radial shortening
|
| Degree of radial shortening (Fig. 4, bottom) |
- > 5 mm: less likely to remain stable, > 10 mm: more likely to have symptoms
- Seems to correlate significantly with poorer outcome, especially if it increases on follow-up x-rays
|
| Depth of comminution from the dorsal surface toward the volar surface and severity of comminution |
- Owing to the mechanism of injury, comminution tends to occur on the dorsal surface of the radius. Casting is more likely to fail if the comminution extends volarly to the midaxial plane of the radius or is more severe.
|
| Degree of intrarticular involvement |
- Less likely to remain stable at higher degrees
- Increased risk of poorer functional outcome
|
| Degree of intra-articular step deformity |
- Less likely to remain stable at higher degrees
- > 2 mm step deformity: increased risk of poorer functional outcome
|
| Degree of displacement of the radial fragment medially or laterally |
- Less likely to remain stable at higher degrees
|
| Presence and degree of associated ulnar styloid fracture |
- Less likely to remain stable at higher degrees
- Increased risk of distal radioulnar joint instability if the fracture is through the base of the ulnar styloid
|
| Associated radial styloid fracture |
- Less likely to remain stable at higher degrees
|
| Patient's age |
- A younger patient may have been fractured with a higher energy mechanism, hence might have a poorer outcome owing to soft-tissue damage.
- Younger or higher-functioning patients require more aggressive management to ensure less disability.
|
| Degree of associated soft-tissue injury (mechanism of injury) |
- Higher energy mechanism of injury might correlate with poorer outcome owing to soft-tissue damage, regardless of the degree of other characteristics.
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