Unstable colles' fractures in elderly patients : a randomised trial of external fixation for redisplacement

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume Vol. 73; no. 2; pp. 307 - 311
• Main Authors: ROUMEN, R. M. H, HESP, W. L. E. M, BRUGGINK, E. D. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery 01.03.1991
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Colles' Fracture - diagnostic imaging; Colles' Fracture - surgery; Colles' Fracture - therapy; External Fixators; Female; Fracture Fixation - adverse effects; Fracture Fixation - methods; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Radiography; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Wound Healing; Human; Radius; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Colles fracture; Trauma; Wrist; Fixation; Treatment; Surgery; External; Instability; Upper limb; Bone; Technique; Elderly
• ISSN: 0301-620X; 2044-5377
• DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.73B2.2005162

We report the results of a prospective randomised controlled trial of the management of 101 Colles' fractures in patients over the age of 55 years. Within two weeks of initial reduction 43 fractures had displaced with either more than 10 degrees dorsal angulation or more than 5 mm radial shortening. These patients were randomly divided into two groups: 21 were remanipulated and held by an external fixator; in the control group of 22 patients, the redisplacement was accepted and conservative treatment was continued. Patients treated with external fixation had a good anatomical result, but their function was no better than that of the control group. We found no correlation between final anatomical and functional outcome, and concluded that the severity of the original soft-tissue injury and its complications are the major determinants of functional end result.