Question 1: What is the most common injury sustained due to fall on outstretched hand by a person aged 65 years?
- A. Shoulder dislocation
- B. Fracture of metacarpals
- C. Supracondylar fracture
- D. Colles' fracture (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Colles' fracture***
- A **Colles' fracture** is a common injury in older adults, particularly post-menopausal women, due to **osteoporosis** weakening the bones.
- It involves a **distal radius fracture** with dorsal displacement of the distal fragment, occurring typically from a fall onto an **outstretched hand**.
*Shoulder dislocation*
- While shoulder dislocations can occur from falls, they are less common than wrist fractures in the elderly following a fall on an outstretched hand, especially given the prevalence of **osteoporosis**.
- A shoulder dislocation typically involves the **humeral head** coming out of the glenoid fossa.
*Fracture of metacarpals*
- Metacarpal fractures can result from direct trauma to the hand or a fall, but they are generally less frequent than **distal radius fractures** in the elderly after a fall on an outstretched hand.
- These fractures involve the bones within the hand itself and are often caused by **punching injuries** or direct impact.
*Supracondylar fracture*
- **Supracondylar fractures** are more common in children due to their bone structure and are typically associated with falls on an outstretched hand.
- In adults, particularly the elderly, this type of fracture is much less common than a **Colles' fracture** following such a mechanism.