Colles fracture: The wrist is fractured when people fall on an outstretched hand, with the wrist bent back. The larger forearm bone (radius) breaks near the wrist, and the broken end of the radius is displaced up, toward the back of the hand.
Smith fracture: The wrist is fractured when people fall with the hand bent forward. The broken end of the radius is displaced down, toward the palm side of the wrist.
