PaEasy Emergency Medicine Practice Exam

Chauffeur's fracture describes an oblique fracture through the base of the radial styloid of the distal radius. It typically results from a direct impact to an outstretched hand, with the force driving through the radial side to split at the base of the styloid. This location—the base of the radial styloid—is what sets it apart from other wrist injuries. Barton's fracture involves a rim fracture of the distal radius with intra-articular disturbance and carpal dislocation, not specifically at the styloid base. Tillaux refers to a distal tibial epiphysis injury in adolescents, and Jones is a fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal. So the oblique fracture at the radial styloid base is the Chauffeur's fracture.