colles' fracture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “colles' fracture” mean?
A specific type of fracture of the distal radius (wrist bone) where the broken fragment tilts upward and backward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific type of fracture of the distal radius (wrist bone) where the broken fragment tilts upward and backward.
A common wrist fracture, often resulting from a fall onto an outstretched hand, characterized by a 'dinner fork' deformity. It is named after the Irish surgeon Abraham Colles who first described it in 1814.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: In British medical texts, the possessive apostrophe is often retained ('Colles' fracture'). In American texts, it is sometimes omitted ('Colles fracture'). The condition and its definition are identical.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no cultural or regional connotations beyond the medical field.
Frequency
Equally common in medical discourse in both regions. Virtually unknown in everyday non-medical conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “colles' fracture” in a Sentence
The patient [verb: sustained/suffered/has] a Colles' fracture.The X-ray confirmed a Colles' fracture.The [adjective: displaced/comminuted] Colles' fracture required surgery.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colles' fracture” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mechanism typically **Colles-fractures** the wrist in elderly patients. (rare, jargon)
American English
- The fall is likely to **Colles-fracture** the distal radius. (rare, jargon)
adjective
British English
- The patient presented with a **Colles-type** deformity.
American English
- She had a **Colles-pattern** fracture on the radiograph.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical, nursing, and physiotherapy textbooks, journals, and lectures.
Everyday
Extremely rare. A layperson would say 'broken wrist'.
Technical
The primary context. Used in clinical notes, radiology reports, surgical plans, and between healthcare professionals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “colles' fracture”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “colles' fracture”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colles' fracture”
- Pronouncing it as 'coals' or 'colleague's'.
- Misspelling as 'Collies fracture' or 'Collis fracture'.
- Using it to refer to any arm or hand fracture.
- Omitting the possessive apostrophe in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a specific and common type of broken wrist. Not all wrist fractures are Colles' fractures, but all Colles' fractures are wrist fractures.
Abraham Colles (1773-1843) was an Irish professor of anatomy and surgery who published a definitive description of this fracture in 1814, before X-rays were invented.
Treatment ranges from casting for non-displaced fractures to surgical procedures like closed reduction or internal fixation for displaced or unstable fractures.
Because the typical displacement of the wrist after this fracture resembles the shape of a classic dinner fork when viewed from the side.
A specific type of fracture of the distal radius (wrist bone) where the broken fragment tilts upward and backward.
Colles' fracture is usually technical/medical in register.
Colles' fracture: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒl.ɪz ˌfræk.tʃər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.lɪz ˌfræk.tʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone named **Colles** falling and their wrist making a shape like a **fork** (the 'dinner fork deformity'). Colles + Fork = Colles' Fracture.
Conceptual Metaphor
The deformity is metaphorically described as a 'dinner fork' or 'silver fork' due to its visual similarity.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a Colles' fracture?