title: Treatment of unstable Colles' fractures by external fixation.
abstract: Twenty-six patients with unstable comminuted fracture of the distal part of the radius were treated with external fixation using Hoffmanns external fixation device. The average follow-up was 29 months. The anatomical results were 85% good or excellent, 10% fair and 5% poor. Functionally, 60% were good or excellent, 25% fair and 15% poor. There were three major complications and nine minor complications, the overall complication rate being 60%, though only 15% were major. The method is recommended when dealing with fractures of type VII and VIII, but not as a general routine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Horsens Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fruensgaard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*