Which fracture is an oblique fracture through the base of the radial styloid in the forearm?

• A. Bennett fracture
• B. Boxer's fracture
• C. Chauffer's fracture
• D. Lisfranc fracture

Answer: (D)

This describes a fracture at the distal radius involving the radial styloid, specifically an oblique fracture through the base of the radial styloid known as a Chauffeur’s fracture. It arises from an impact or axial load transmitted through the wrist, producing an oblique fracture line at the radial styloid that can involve the radiocarpal joint. On imaging, you’d expect to see the oblique fracture at the base of the radial styloid, sometimes with small accompanying joint surface involvement or distal radioulnar joint injury.

This differs from injuries affecting other bones in the hand or foot—for example, a base fracture of the first metacarpal (thumb), a fracture of the neck of the fifth metacarpal (boxer’s), or a midfoot Lisfranc injury. Those do not involve the radial styloid, so they don’t match the described location and pattern.