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Broken wrist. Coloured X-ray of a Colles' fracture of the wrist (red, side view), an injury usually caused by the extension of a hand (top) to lessen the impact of a fall. In a Colles' fracture the radius (down centre) breaks near the wrist, and the wrist and hand are displaced backwards. This type of fracture is common in the elderly, whose bones have been weakened by osteoporosis. Treatment involves the surgical repositioning of the bones followed by immobilisation in a cast. The injury slightly increases the risk of developing arthritis in the joint. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/DU CANE MEDICAL IMAGING LTD)