A distal radius fracture is a common bone fracture of the radius

Radius (bone)

The radius is one of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna. It extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist and runs parallel to the ulna, which exceeds it in length and size. It is a long bone, prism-shaped and slightly curved longitudinally...

 in the forearm. Because of its proximity to the wrist joint

Wrist

In human anatomy, the wrist is variously defined as 1) the carpus or carpal bones, the complex of eight bones forming the proximal skeletal segment of the hand;...

, this injury is often called a wrist fracture. Treatment is usually with immobilization, although surgery is sometimes needed for complex fractures.

Specific types of distal radius fractures are Colles' fracture

Colles' fracture

A Colles' fracture, also Colles fracture, is a fracture of the distal radius in the forearm with dorsal displacement of the wrist and hand. The fracture is sometimes referred to as a "dinner fork" or "bayonet" deformity due to the shape of the resultant forearm...

; Smith's fracture

Smith's fracture

A Smith's fracture, also sometimes known as a reverse Colles' fracture is a fracture of the distal radius. It is caused by a direct blow to the dorsal forearm or falling onto flexed wrists, as opposed to a Colles' fracture which occurs as a result of falling onto wrists in extension...

; Barton's fracture

Barton's fracture

A Barton's fracture is an intra-articular fracture of the distal radius with dislocation of the radiocarpal joint.There exist two types of Barton's fracture - dorsal and palmar, the latter being more common. The Barton's fracture is caused by a fall on an extended and pronated wrist increasing...

; Chauffeur's fracture

Chauffeur's fracture

Chauffeur's fracture is a type of fracture of the forearm, specifically the radial styloid process. 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...

 (so called because the crank used to start old cars often kicked back and broke the chauffeurs' wrists with a particular pattern).