Colles and Smith fractures are both fractures of the distal radius.

Colles fracture

• Dorsal angulation of the fractured fragment
• Memory aid: CD

Smith fracture

• Volar angulation of the fractured fragment
  • Volar means palmar
• Memory aid: VS almost looks like US, which is quite American

And that’s how an American CD is made.

References

1. Luijkx, T. and Desai, P. (2018). Colles fracture. [online] Radiopaedia. Available at: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/colles-fracture [Accessed 15 Jan. 2018].
2. Luijkx, T. and Gaillard, F. (2018). Smith fracture. [online] Radiopaedia. Available at: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/smith-fracture [Accessed 15 Jan. 2018].