| Fracture | Eponymee | Description / Mechanism of injury |
History / References |
Image / Reference |
| Bankart’s fracture | Arthur Sydney Blundell Bankart 1879-1951 English orthopaedic surgeon |
External rotation and abduction of shoulder.Fracture of anterior glenoid associated with anterior shoulder dislocation.A Bankart lesion occurs when the anterior/inferior portion of the labrum is torn away from the glenoid fossa. | Bankart’s Fracture [Line Drawing] |  |
| Barton’s fracture | John Rhea Barton 1794-1871 American surgeon |
Fall on outstretched handIntra-articular fracture of the distal radius with dislocation of the radiocarpal joint. Fractures may be displaced volar or dorsal direction |  |
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| Bennett’s fracture | Edward Hallaran Bennett 1837-1907 Irish SurgeonBennett was responsible for the introduction of Lister’s antiseptic surgical technique into Ireland |
Axial load along metacarpal in a partially flexed thumbIntra-articular fracture-dislocation of the base of the first metacarpal | Bennett’s fractureBennett’s Fracture [Line Drawing] |
 Bennett’s Fracture |
| Bosworth fracture | David M. Bosworth 1897–1979 Orthopedic Surgeon in New YorkMost important medical contribution was the introduction of streptomycin for the treatment of bone and joint tuberculosis [Reference] |
Now an archaic term for a type of ankle fracture-dislocation associated with severe external rotation of the foot [Reference]Fracture of distal fibula with posterior dislocation of the proximal fibula behind the tibia |
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| Boxer’s fracture | “Boxers” | Usually following a ‘punch’ injury with a clenched fistFracture of distal 5th metacarpal | Boxer’s Fracture Overview |  |
| Chance fracture | George Quentin ChanceBritish Radiologist (Manchester) | Hyperflexion of spine. Particularly associated with car accidents when the occupant is restrained with a lap belt (also known as the ‘seat-belt fracture’)Transverse fracture through a vertebral body and neural arch. Usually occurring at the thoracolumbar junction | Chance Fracture [Line Drawing] |
 Chance Fracture |
| Chopart’s fracture-dislocation | François Chopart 1743-1795 French surgeon (Paris)Midtarsal joint is named Chopart’s joint. |
Foot dislocation through the midtarsal joints (talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints) usually with associated fractures | Chopart’s Fracture-Dislocation [Line Drawing]Chopart disarticulated this joint while performing foot amputations. Amputations through the midtarsal joint allowed weight bearing and it resisted infection better than amputations at other sites. |  |
| Colles’ fracture | Abraham Colles 1773-1843 Irish Surgeon and anatomistAlso known for his work on the nature of congenital syphilis – Colles’s law |
Fall onto outstretched hand.Extra-articular fracture of the distal radius (does not extend into joint space).Dorsal displacement/angulation of the distal radius fracture fragment and volar angulation of the fracture apex. Frequently associated with fracture of ulnar styloid | Pouteau fracture is the name used in France for a Colles fracture. Named after Claude Pouteau (1725–1775) the famous French lithotomist |  |
| Cotton fracture | Frederich J. Cotton 1869–1938 Orthopedic Surgeon in BostonAlso defined the Cotton-Loder position for wrist fracture reduction |
Now an archaic term for a trimalleolar fracture (fractures of both the lateral and medial malleolus and the posterior process of the tibia |
 Trimalleolar Fracture |
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| Duverney fracture | Guichard Joseph Duverney 1648–1730 French Surgeon |
Direct trauma to the iliac wing. Isolated fracture of the iliac wing.NOT associated with other pelvic fractures |
Duverney Fracture [Line Drawing] |  |
| Essex-Lopresti fracture | Peter Gordon Essex-Lopresti 1918–1951 British Surgeon (Birmingham)Surgeon for the Air Force in World War II, he became an expert in parachuting injuries.Also described a classification system to describe fractures of the os calcis (calcaneum) |
Intra-articular fracture of the proximal radial head PLUS interosseous membrane disruption and distal radioulnar joint subluxation | Essex Lopresti Fracture [Line Drawing] |
 Radial Head Fracture  Distal Radioular subluxation |
| Galeazzi fracture | Ricardo Galeazzi 1866–1952 Italian SurgeonGaleazzi was an important figure in the development of orthopedic rehabilitation services in Italy, to care for crippled children and soldiers wounded in World War I |
Fracture of the shaft of radius (most commonly at the junction of the middle and distal thirds) with dislocation of distal radioulnar joint | Galeazzi Fracture [Line Drawing]Piedmont fracture is another name for the Galeazzi fracture. It was named after the Piedmont Orthopedic Society |  |
| Gosselin fracture | Leon Athanese Gosselin 1815-1887 Chief of surgery at the Hôpital La Charite in Paris |
The Gosselin fracture is a V-shaped fracture of the distal tibia that extends into the tibial plafond and divides the plafond into anterior and posterior fragments | Gosselin Fracture [Line Drawing] |  |
| Hawkins Classification of Talar Fractures | Leland G Hawkins | Vertical fracturesof the neck of the talus.Four part classification system (Types I-IV) [Reference: Hawkins L: Fractures of the neck of the talus. J Bone Joint Surg 1970;52A:991-1002.]Increasing disruption associated with increased likelihood of associated talus avascular necrosis |
Hawkins Talar Fracture Hawkins original JBJS Article Hawkins Sign [preservation of the blood supply to the talus] |
 Hawkins Fracture Type I  Hawkins Fracture Type II |
| Hill-Sachs lesion | Harold Arthur Hill 1901–1973 American Radiologist (San Diego)Maurice David Sachs 1909–1987 American Radiologist (San Diego) |
Impacted fracture of the posterolateral aspect of the humeral head caused by impingement of the head on the anterior edge of the scapular glenoid during anterior dislocation of the shoulder.Increased risk of recurrent dislocations |
 Hill-Sachs Fracture Dislocation |
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| Holdsworth fracture | Sir Frank Wild Holdsworth 1904–1969 British Orthopaedic SurgeonPioneer in the rehabilitation of spinal injuries |
Distraction and extension of neckUnstable spinal fracture-dislocation at the thoracolumbar junction | Holdsworth fracture [Line Drawing] | |
| Hutchinson Fracture | Jonathan Hutchinson 1828–1913 British Orthopaedic Surgeon |
An oblique fracture of the radial styloid process with extension into the wrist joint (intra-articular extension). | Also known by several other pseudonyms such as Chauffeur fracture; the ‘back-fire’ fractures and the crank fracture. Arose from the era of hand cranking to start motor vehicles.These archaic terms describe an injury by mechanism (a kickback of the crank handle) rather than by anatomy. |
 Hutchinson Fracture |
| Jefferson fracture | Geoffrey Jefferson 1886-1961 English neurosurgeon (Manchester) |
Compression of neck with direct axial load resulting in a complex burst fracture of the ring of the atlas (C1) | Jefferson Fracture [Line Drawing] |
 Jefferson Fracture C1 Atlas |
| Jones fracture | Sir Robert Jones 1857–1933 British Orthopaedic SurgeonJones was also a pioneer in radiology and published the first clinical radiograph less than 2 months after Roentgen’s original report [Reference: Jones R, Lodge O. The discovery of a bullet lost in the wrist by means of the Roentgen rays. Lancet 1896; 1(22 Feb):476–477] |
Fracture of base of 5th metatarsal extending into intermetatarsal joint.Jones fractureis usually proximal to the metatarsal cuboid joint and involves the base of the fifth metatarsal at metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction.This fracture was first described by Robert Jones in 1902 after he injured himself dancing | Pseudo-Jones fracture or Tennis fracture is an avulsion of the 5th Metatarsal tuberosity (at the attachment site of the peroneus brevis) occurring during forcible inversion of the foot in plantar flexionPseudo-Jones fracture is the most common fracture of the base of the 5th metatarsal, accounting for over 90%. | 
 Jones Fracture |
| LeFort fracture | René Le Fort 1869-1951 French surgeon |
LeFort I, or transmaxillary fracture runs between the maxillary floor and the orbital floor. It may involve the medial and lateral walls of the maxillary sinuses and invariably involves the pterygoid processes of the sphenoid LeFort II is a pyramidal fracture LeFort III involves a large facial unstable (floating) fragment. Also referred to as craniofacial disassociation |
 LeFort Fracture Type II |
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| Le Fort’s fracture of the ankle | Léon Clément Le Fort 1829-1893 French SurgeonLe Fort is known for discovering direct communications between bronchial and pulmonary blood vessels.Best known for his surgery for uterine prolapse |
Vertical fracture at the anteromedial portion of the distal fibula with avulsion of the internal malleolus of the ankle. | Le Fort Ankle Fracture [Line Drawing]Leading advocate for the principals of asepsis before scientific bacteriology was developed. |  |
| Lisfranc injuryLisfranc fracture-dislocationLisfranc joint complexLisfranc joint | Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin 1829-1893 French SurgeonSurgeon in Napoleon’s army who described an amputation method through the tarsometatarsal joints |
Lisfranc injury refers to disruption of the tarsometatarsal joint. Injuries range from sprain (minor diastasis) through to tarsometatarsal fracture-dislocation.The presence of small avulsed fragments (fleck sign) are further indications of ligamentous injury and probable joint disruption | “Lisfranc joint complex” refers to tarsometatarsal articulations and that the term”Lisfranc joint” refers to the medial articulation involving the first and second metatarsals with the medial (first) and middle (second) cuneiformsFoot Radiology Anatomy |  |
| Maisonneuve fracture | Jules Germain François Maisonneuve 1809-1897 French Surgeon |
Proximal fracture of fibula resulting from external rotation.Injury may occur with medial malleolus avulsion fracture; deltoid ligament rupture; rupture of anterior talofibular ligament and/or rupture of the interosseous ligament, rupture of posterior tibiofibular ligament or posterior malleolar fracture |  |
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| Malgaigne’s fracture | Joseph-François Malgaigne 1806-1865 French SurgeonOne of the great surgical historians of the 19th century. His book on fractures and dislocations was the first comprehensive book on the subject. |
High energy impact to pelvis e.g. fall from height landing on lower limbsVertical shear fracture of pelvis. Fracture involves both pubic rami and sacro-iliac complex or sacrum. Injury characterized by rupture of entire pelvic floor, including posterior sacro-iliac complex as well as sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments | Malgaigne fracture: Vertical shear Classification |
 Malgaigne Fracture |
| Monteggia fracture | Giovanni Battista Monteggia 1762-1815 Italian physician and surgeon |
Direct trauma to the forearm causing fracture of the ulna shaft and dislocation of the radial head.Fracture of the proximal portion of the ulna combined with dislocation of the radial head.Jose Luis Bado (1903–1977), an orthopedic surgeon from Montevideo, Uruguay further classified the four types of Monteggia Fracture | Bado Classification of Monteggia fractures. |  |
| Moore’s fracture | Edward Mott Moore 1814-1902 American surgeon |
Fracture of the distal radius with associated dislocation of the ulnar head, which causes the styloid process to be secured under the annular ligaments of the wrist | ||
| Pipkin fracture | G Pipkin | Impact to the knee with the hip flexed (dashboard injury)Fracture of femoral head in association with posterior dislocation of hip. | Pipkin Case Study |
 Pipkin Fracture |
| Pellegrini-Stieda diseaseSteida fracturePellegrini’s syndrome | Augusto Pellegrini 1877-1958 Italian surgeon Alfred Stieda 1869-1945 German surgeon |
Ossification of the superior portion of the medial collateral ligament of the kneeSequela of an old injury (or injuries) to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee | WikliRadiography |  |
| Pott’s fracture | Percival Pott 1714-1788 British surgeonSir Percival Pott experienced this compound fracture in 1756 and in 1769 gave his classical description of it. |
Fracture of the lower end of the fibula and medial malleolus of the tibia with rupture of the internal lateral ligament of the ankle, caused by outward and backward displacement of the leg while the foot is fixed. | Pott’s fracture (also: Bimalleolar fractures) involve at least 2 elements of the ankle ring. These fractures should be considered unstable and require urgent orthopedic attention. |  |
| Rolando fracture | Silvio Rolando 1714-1788 Italian Surgeon |
Axial load along the metacarpal causing splitting of the proximal articular surfaceComminuted Y-shaped fracture of the base of the first metacarpal. Rolando described three cases in 1910. It is similar to Bennett’s fracture. |
 Rolando Fracture |
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| Salter-Harris fracture classification | Robert Bruce Salter 1924– Canadian SurgeonW. Robert Harris 1922– Canadian Surgeon |
Salter-Harris fractures are fractures through a growth plate. | Salter-Harris ISalter-Harris IISalter-Harris IIISalter-Harris IV |
 Salter-Harris |
| Schatzker fracture classification | Joseph Schatzker Canadian Surgeon[Original Reference articleThe tibial plateau fracture. The Toronto experience 1968--1975 Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1979 Jan-Feb;(138):94-104.]Although on plain X-ray the AO classification may be more reliable [Reference] |
Schatzker I – Split fracture of the lateral tibial plateau without articular depression Schatzker II – Split depressed fracture of the lateral tibial plateau Schatzker III - Isolated depression of the lateral plateau Schatzker IV – Isolated depression of the medial plateau Schatzker V - Bicondylar plateau fracture with varying degrees of articular depression and displacement of the condyles Schatzker VI – Bicondylar tibial plateau fracture extending to metadiaphysis (diaphyseal metaphyseal dissociation) |
Web-Based Tutorial on SchatzkerRCSED Tibial Plateau review |  |
| Segond fracture | Paul Ferdinand Segond 1851-1912 French surgeon |
Avulsion fracture of the anterolateral margin of the lateral tibial plateau.Segond fractures are associated with excessive varus force and internal rotation applied to the lower leg.Commonly associated with tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (75-100%) and injuries of the medial and lateral menisci (66-70%)Reverse Segond fracture associated with valgus stress, external rotation and avulsion fracture at the tibial insertion of the medial collateral ligament (medial tibial plateau) | Segond Fracture Reverse Segond fracture |
 Segond Fracture  Reverse Segond Fracture |
| Shepherd’s fracture | Francis J. Shepherd | Fracture of the lateral tubercle of the posterior process of the talus.An os trigonum is an accessory bone that is formed from the lack of fusion with the talus, which normally forms the trigonal process (Steida’s process). Fracture of the trigonal process (lateral tubercle) is termed the Shepherd’s Fracture |
Shepherd’s fracture [SMA Journal]Posterior process fractures (Shepherd’s fractures) are caused by damage to the posterior process of the talus by either sudden extension of the foot so that the forefoot is depressed relative to the heel (plantar flexion) or by repetitive motion (especially in athletes or dancers). |
 Os trigonum |
| Smith’s fracture | Robert William Smith 1807-1873 Irish surgeon |
Fall on outstretched hand with wrist in flexed positionA flexion and compression fracture of the lower end of the radius, with forward displacement of the lower fragment. | Known in France as the “Goyrand Fracture” after the prominent French surgeon Jean-Gaspar-Blaise Goyrand (1803–1866) who clarified the anatomy of the many varieties of fractures of the distal radius |
 Smith’s Fracture |
| Tillaux fractureTillaux-Chaput fracture | Henri Victor Chaput 1857-1919 French surgeonPaul Jules Tillaux 1834-1904 French surgeon |
Caused by forced lateral rotation of the foot or medial rotation of the leg on a fixed foot.Leads to avulsion injury from the strong anterior tibiofibular ligament, which attaches to the lateral epiphysisSalter-Harris III fracture of the anteriolateral tibial epiphysis that is commonly seen in adolescents. | Tillaux first described this particular fracture in 1892. On cadavers he found that stress to the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament could lead an avulsion fracture – Tillaux fracture.A similar injury to the posterolateral tibia was later described by Henri Chaput the – Tillaux-Chaput fracture. |  |
| Weber ClassificationDanis-Weber Classification | Robert Danis 1880–1962 Belgian SurgeonBernhard Georg Weber 1927 – 2002 Orthopaedic Surgeon (Switzerland) |
Type A: below level of the ankle joint with tibiofibular syndesmosis intact; deltoid ligament intact and medial malleolus often fractured Type B: at the level of the ankle joint, extending superiorly and laterally up the fibula. Tibiofibular syndesmosis intact or partially torn, but no widening of the distal tibiofibular articulation. Medial malleolus may be fractured or deltoid ligament my be torn. Type C: above the level of the ankle joint. Tibiofibular syndesmosis disrupted with widening of the distal tibiofibular articulation. Medial malleolus fracture or deltoid ligament injury present |
Classification first introduced by Danis[Reference: Danis R, ed. Theorie et pratique de l’ osteosynthese. Paris, France: Masson & Cie, 1949]…and then modified by Weber[Reference: Weber BG. Die verletzungen des oberen sprung- gelenkes. 2nd ed. Bern, Switzerland: Huber, 1972]Classification [Line Drawing] |
 Weber A  Weber B  Weber C
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