Functional bracing of Colles' fractures: a prospective study of immobilization in supination vs. pronation.
In a prospective study, 156 Colles' fractures were treated with a functional Orthoplast brace. Approximately one-half were braced in pronation and one-half in supination. One hundred and four were available for follow-up. Results were analyzed by type of fracture and position of immobilization (pronation versus supination). In evaluating the results, we found that: (1) displaced Colles' fractures without articular involvement (Type II) braced in supination yielded superior anatomic results when compared with those treated in pronation; (2) Type IV (displaced intra-articular) fractures braced in supination obtained a significantly higher percentage of excellent functional and anatomic results than those braced in pronation. In general, treatment with functional bracing yielded 90% excellent or good functional results.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001915:Braces; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000628:therapy*