Regional anesthesia preferable for Colles' fracture. Controlled comparison with local anesthesia.

In a prospective randomized study of 99 displaced Colles' fractures, regional intravenous block was compared with local anesthesia in the fracture hematoma. Patients treated with regional intravenous block had less pain during the manipulation of the fracture and better grip strength at the 6-month follow-up. The anatomic end result (dorsal angulation) was better after regional anesthesia.