Unstable-colles fractures: a comparative study of four closed methods of immobilization

Eighty patients suffering from unstable Colles' fractures were treated by closed reduction and external immobilization with 4 different methods; either the traditional below elbow plaster of Paris, a ready made functional cast brace, a bipolar fixation using 2 Kirschner wines incorporated in a below elbow plaster of Paris cast or small Hoffman external fixator applying the principle of ligamentotaxis across the wrist. The functional results with bipolar fixation were the same as after using a functional cast brace, however both of them were superior than after using the external fixator and the ordinary below elbow plaster of Paris