Treatment of Colles' fracture. A prospective comparison of three different positions of immobilization.

The usual treatment of Colles' fracture, i.e. fracture of the distal radius with dorsal angulation of the distal fragment, is closed reduction and immobilization in a plaster cast. The position of the forearm in the cast varies, according to the reports of various authors. Forty-two extra-articular-fractures of the distal radius have been randomly divided into three groups. All were reduced, and the forearms were then immobilized in three different positions of rotation according to the grouping. The study indicates that the position of the forearm during immobilization is of importance as regards redislocation. After application of a plaster cast with the forearm in pronation there seems to be less likelihood of redislocation occurring than when the forearm is immobilized in supination (P less than 0.05).