Definition: The Smith's fracture is an 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.
Because the Smith's fracture is quite unstable, this injury almost always needs fixation by some method. If the fracture is displaced from its normal anatomic position, it will need to be operatively secured into the proper place (ORIF). Casting may be attempted, but needs to be watched closely to ensure the fracture stays in proper position.
Also Known As: Wrist Fracture, Broken Wrist
