The chauffeur's fracture: simple or complex?

14 chauffeur's-type fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation, mainly with Herbert screws. At average follow-up of 18 months, all had good or excellent functional results. The presence of an associated carpal injury in four cases indicates that the mechanism of injury may not be one of simple "backfire" and that a radial styloid fracture may represent the first stage of a more complex pattern.