Skip to main content
OrthoVellum
Knowledge Hub

Study

  • Topics
  • MCQs
  • ISAWE
  • Operative Surgery
  • Flashcards

Company

  • About Us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Blog

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Copyright & DMCA
  • Refund Policy

Support

  • Help Center
  • Accessibility
  • Report an Issue
OrthoVellum

© 2026 OrthoVellum. For educational purposes only.

Not affiliated with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Trauma
intermediate
X-Type

Chauffeur's Fractures (Radial Styloid Fractures)

Wrist Trauma

A 35-year-old motorcyclist sustains a direct blow to the radial aspect of his wrist in a collision. He presents with radial-sided wrist pain, swelling, and tenderness over the radial styloid. Radiographs reveal an oblique fracture of the radial styloid with a 12mm fragment that is displaced 3mm and involves the radiocarpal joint. PA wrist radiograph shows a scapholunate interval of 4mm (normal less than 2mm). MRI confirms disruption of the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL). Regarding this injury pattern:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Chauffeur's fractures derive their historical name from injuries sustained by early automobile opera...

B

There is a high association (30-50%) between radial styloid fractures and scapholunate ligament inju...

C

Surgical fixation is indicated for radial styloid fragments greater than 5mm, articular step-off gre...

D

Radial styloid fractures are part of the "lesser arc" injury pattern in the spectrum of perilunate i...

E

Fixation is preferably achieved with headless compression screws to avoid hardware prominence and fa...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option