Radial styloid fracture

Sometimes known as a ‘Chauffeur’s fracture’, this injury is the result of a forced radial deviation of the wrist. There is often a history of a fall onto an outstretched arm. (These fractures were historically suffered by drivers who would need to start their cars using a hand crank, hence the term ‘Chauffeur’s fracture as these cranks would occasionally backfire and forcefully strike drivers on the back of the wrist.)

There is a transverse fracture which extends across the base of the styloid process. Often the fragment is undisplaced.

If the fragment is displaced then it should be reduced and held with Kirschner wires.

Reference

1. Caldwell RA, Shorten PL, Morrell NT. Common Upper Extremity Fracture Eponyms: A Look Into What They Really Mean. J Hand Surg Am. 2019 Apr;44(4):331-334.