Fernandez Classification of Distal Radial Fractures

Fernandez Classification of Distal Radial Fractures, radiographs of an extra-articular smith fracture
Radiographs of an extra-articular Smith fracture. Image by Hellerhoff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Based on Mechanism of Injury

 Type 
1 Bendingmetaphysis fails due to tensile stress (Colles & Smith fractures)
2Compressiondie punch fractures
3Shearingfractures of the joint surface such as Barton fractures & fracture of the radial styloid process
4Avulsionfracture of ligamentous attachments (fracture of the ulnar & radial styloid processes)
5CombinationCombinations of types one through four & high velocity injuries
Fernandez (1987) Classification of Distal Radial Fractures

Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.