External skeletal fixation versus cement fixation in the treatment of redislocated Colles' fracture.

In a prospective investigation in 1984 and 1985, all Colles' fractures (not comminuted or intraarticular) that redisplaced after two closed reductions were allocated at random to one of two groups: Group I (n = 23), in which the dorsal bone deficiency was filled with bone cement (methylmethacrylate), and Group II (n = 25), in which the fracture was treated with external fixation. All were followed for one year and examined with respect to anatomy of the fracture, wrist movement, strength, appearance, pain, function, and complications. Roentgenograms, 12 months after treatment, showed that all fractures had healed and that the cement was enveloped in cortical bone. The final results were equal in the two groups, but Group I improved earlier and had no complications.