Similar Results from Three Immobilization Techniques After Colles Fracture Reduction

Nonoperative immobilization of fractures can be accomplished by several methods, including circumferential casting, volar-dorsal splinting, and modified sugar-tong splinting. Researchers compared the efficacy of the three techniques in a prospective randomized study of 101 adult patients who presented to an emergency department (ED) in Vancouver, British Columbia, with closed isolated first-time distal radius fractures and who did not have neuromuscular deficit. Patients were randomized after successful reduction with procedural sedation in the ED.

Eighty-two percent of patients were available for follow-up assessment at 8 weeks, and 61% were available at 6 months. At both time points, rate of loss of anatomic position; disability of the arm…