Question
The most common complication of a Colles' fracture is
The correct answer is
Malunion
Colles' Fracture Complications Explained
A Colles' fracture involves a break in the distal radius, typically with dorsal displacement of the distal fragment.
While several complications can arise from a Colles' fracture, certain ones are more frequent than others.
Common Complications of Colles' Fracture
- Malunion: This occurs when the fractured bone heals in an anatomically incorrect position. For Colles' fractures, this often means the distal radius heals with residual dorsal angulation and shortening, potentially leading to wrist deformity and dysfunction. It is widely considered the most common complication.
- Delayed union: The fracture takes longer than usual to heal.
- Non-union: The fracture fails to heal completely.
- Sudeck's osteodystrophy (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - CRPS): A painful, disabling condition affecting an arm or leg, often occurring after an injury or surgery. While serious, it's not typically the most frequent complication compared to malunion.
Given the nature of the injury, achieving perfect anatomical reduction can be challenging, making malunion a frequent outcome if not managed correctly. Therefore, malunion is identified as the most common complication.
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Important Questions from Bones & Joints
- A 40-year-old lady complains of progressive deformities of her hands and fingers associated with stiffness which is present in both the hands and improves as the day progresses. On examination, there is symmetrical involvement of hands and fingers of both the upper limbs with flexion and ulnar deviation at the metacarpophalangeal joints. What is the most likely diagnosis in this lady?
- A 52-year-old female complains of increasing pain in the right shoulder. She is also finding it increasingly difficult to do overhead abduction of the affected joint. She had been diagnosed as a diabetic 20 years back and is on treatment since then. What is the most likely cause of her clinical condition?
Consider the following :
1. Pain relief
2. Prevention of infection
3. Anaesthesia
4. Restoration of anatomy
Which of the features given above are benefits of fracture treatment?
- Hangman's fracture is
- Which of the following is NOT true about Dupuytren's Contracture?
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