Broken wrist Coloured Xray of a Colles fracture of the wrist yellow an injury usually caused by the extension of a hand to lessen the impact of a fall A Colles fracture may also be associated with a break of the styloid process of the ulna down left as in this case The styloid process allows the attachment of wrist ligaments 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