Fractures of the distal end of the radius. An historical account

From the time of Hippocrates to the beginning of the nineteenth century, fractures of the distal end of the radius were mistaken for dislocations of the wrist. Clinical observations, anatomic dissections, and experiments on cadavers dispelled this error. It was not, however, until after the discovery of roentgenograms that the variety and complexity of these common injuries could be appreciated. From the large group of fractures of the distal end of the radius, three distinct varieties can be distinguished rather easily, and to them the eponyms of Colles (Pouteau-Colles), Smith, and Barton have been applied. The remainder, which consist of a substantial number, do not fit into any specific category and must be described individually.