Final answer:
A Colles fracture is a break of the distal radius typically caused by falling onto an outstretched hand, which may cause a 'dinner fork' deformity of the forearm. Surgery is required when the fracture is displaced, involves a joint, or if there are multiple injuries, where it involves realigning the bone and fixing it with metal hardware. Older individuals and those involved in high-impact sports are more susceptible to this type of fracture.
Step-by-step explanation:
A Colles fracture is an injury to the distal radius that typically occurs when a person falls onto an outstretched hand. This mechanism results in a transverse fracture across the distal radius, and the separated distal fragment is often driven posteriorly and superiorly. This displacement can lead to the characteristic dinner fork deformity of the forearm, which is seen just above the wrist.
Surgery may be required for a Colles fracture if the broken bone fragments are significantly out of place (displaced), if there is joint involvement, or if the patient has multiple injuries. In surgery, the fracture would be realigned (reduced) and internally fixed using metal hardware such as pins, plates, and screws to maintain the proper alignment of the bone during healing.
Colles fractures are particularly common in older individuals who may have osteoporosis, weakening their bones and making them more susceptible to fractures from falls. It is also a frequent occurrence in high-impact sports that involve falling on an outstretched hand, such as snowboarding or skating.