Fracture of radius - Melone classification of distal intraarticular radial fractures

Melone classification of distal intraarticular radial fractures was published in 1984. It is based on four main parts of the radius:

  • shaft
  • radial styloid
  • dorsal medial
  • palmar medial.

The original classification had four types, this modified classification has additional fifth group of severly comminuted fractures.

Type Description
Type I undisplaced fracture with no or minimal comminution
Type II "die punch" fracture with moderate to severe displacement
  • Type IIa: reducible
  • Type IIb: irreducible
Type III fracture with spike fragment - commonly associated  with nerve or tendon injury
Type IV wide separation or rotation of the dorsal fragment and rotation of the palmar fragment
Type V explosion fracture with severe comminution, transverse split, and rotational displacement

References:

1. Melone CP. Articular Fractures of the Distal Radius. Orthop Clin North Am 1984;15:217-236
2. Melone CP. Open Treatment for Displaced Articular Fractures of the Distal Radius. Clin Orthop 1986;202:103-111.
3. Melone CP. Distal Radius Fractures: Patterns of Articular Fragmentation. Orthop Clin North Am 1993;24:239-253.
4. Kural C, Sungur I, Kaya I, Ugras A, Ertürk A, Cetinus E. Evaluation of the Reliability of Classification Systems Used for Distal Radius Fractures. Orthopedics. 2010 Nov 2
5. Andersen DJ, Blair WF, Stevers Jr. CM, Adams BD, El-Khouri GY, Brandser EA. Classification of distal radius fractures: An analysis of interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 1996 Jul;21(4):574–82
6. Goldfarb CA, Yin Y, Gilula LA, Fisher AJ, Boyer MI. Wrist Fractures: What the Clinician Wants to Know1. Radiology. 2001 Apr;219(1):11–28.

Updated 9/11/2013 18:24 by Lambert