Chauffeur's fracture explained

Chauffeur's fracture
Synonyms:Hutchinson fracture, backfire fracture
Field:Orthopedics

Chauffeur's fracture, also known as Hutchinson fracture, is a type of intraarticular oblique fracture of the radial styloid process in the forearm.[1] The injury is typically caused by compression of the scaphoid bone of the hand against the styloid process of the distal radius. It can be caused by falling onto an outstretched hand. Treatment is often open reduction and internal fixation, which is surgical realignment of the bone fragments and fixation with pins, screws, or plates.__TOC__

History

Jonathan Hutchinson first described Chauffeur's fracture in 1866. The term "Chauffeur's fracture" originated from Just Lucas-Championnière in 1904. The name originates from early chauffeurs, who sustained these injuries when the car back-fired while the chauffeur was hand-cranking to start the car.[2] The back-fire forced the crank backward into the chauffeur's palm and produced the characteristic styloid fracture.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Andreotti. Mattia. Tonon. Francesco. Caruso. Gaetano. Massari. Leo. Riva. Michele A.. March 2020. The "Chauffeur Fracture": Historical Origins of an Often-Forgotten Eponym. HAND. en. 15. 2. 252–254. 10.1177/1558944718792650. 1558-9447. 7076623. 30079762.
  2. Lund. F. B.. 1904-11-03. Fractures of the Radius in Starting Automobiles. The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. en. 151. 18. 481–483. 10.1056/NEJM190411031511802. 0096-6762.
  3. Book: Greenspan, Adam.. Orthopedic imaging : a practical approach. 2004. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Greenspan, Adam.. 0-7817-5006-7. 4th. Philadelphia. 54455663.