Radiological measurement of radial shortening in Colles' fracture.

100 consecutive patients with Colles' fracture were assessed functionally three months after the injury, and the result correlated with initial shortening of the radius. Three methods were used to measure radial shortening; only the one that measured the distance from distal radial to distal ulnar surfaces correlated with functional outcome. It is concluded that this is the most valid method of measurement and the deficiencies of the other methods are discussed.