Functional cast-bracing for Colles' fractures. A comparison between cast-bracing and conventional plaster casts. Kapandji pinning or closed reduction for extra-articular distal radius fractures. Plaster cast versus Clyburn external fixation for fractures of the distal radius in patients under 45 years of age. Early results after Colles' fracture: functional bracing in supination vs dorsal plaster immobilization. Functional taping of fractures of the 5th metacarpal results in a quicker recovery. Plaster cast versus percutaneous pin fixation for comminuted fractures of the distal radius in patients between 46 and 65 years of age. Focused rigidity casting: a prospective randomised study. A prospective randomized trial of external fixation and plaster cast immobilization in the treatment of distal radial fractures. On immediate functional bracing of Colles' fracture. Unstable extra-articular fractures of the distal radius: a prospective, randomised study of immobilisation in a cast versus supplementary percutaneous pinning.
The use of Orthoplast cast-bracing to allow early hand function in the treatment of displaced Colles' fractures was investigated in 243 patients. They were randomly allocated into three groups: in the first a conventional Colles' type plaster was used; in the second an above-elbow cast-brace with the forearm in supination; and in the third a below-elbow cast-brace. Radiographic measurements were made at each stage of treatment, and the final anatomical result was scored using Sarmiento's (1975) criteria. Function was assessed at three months and at six months. The anatomical result was not influenced by the method of immobilisation but was related to the efficacy of reduction. Loss of position in the braces was no greater than in plaster. The functional result at three months also was uninfluenced by the method of immobilisation; it was, however, related to the severity of the initial displacement, and (to a lesser degree) to the anatomical result, an effect which was lost at six months. Early hand function and the supinated position advocated by Sarmiento were found to confer no anatomical or functional advantage; we could see no reason to change from the use of conventional plaster casts in the treatment of uncomplicated Colles' fractures. In a randomized prospective trial, closed reduction and plaster application was compared with Kapandji pinning. Closed reduction and plaster cast application was performed in 50 patients, Kapandji pinning in 48 patients. According to the Cooney score, good and excellent results were found in 74% of patients in the closed reduction and plaster cast group compared with 75% of patients in the Kapandji-pinning group. In terms of maintenance of reduction and functional outcome at 1-year follow-up, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. We conclude, therefore, that both techniques can be applied to extra-articular fractures of the distal radius according to the characteristics of the forearm and the surgeon's or the patient's need. In this prospective study, 70 patients between the ages of 20 and 45 years with comminuted intra-articular fractures of the distal radius of types III to VIII (graded according to Frykman) were treated either by closed reduction and forearm plaster (35 patients) or by application of a Clyburn dynamic external fixator (35 patients). The external fixator was more effective at holding the manipulated position, and the roentgenographic loss of position during fracture union was minimal compared with that seen in patients treated in plaster. Functional results in the fixator group were 18 excellent, 10 good, 6 fair, and 1 poor. The plaster group showed the following functional results: 12 excellent, 8 good, 10 fair, and 5 poor. The external fixator generated significantly better anatomical and functional results than did treatment with forearm plaster. A good anatomic position combined with early rehabilitation of the wrist function produced very favorable functional results in patients less than 45 years of age. A randomized clinical study of functional bracing in supination (FUSU) versus dorsal plaster immobilization (DPI) was conducted in 145 patients with Colles' fracture. A dynamic wrist unit was developed and used in 68 patients allocated for FUSU. The anatomical end result after FUSU was excellent or good in 80% of the patients versus 64% after DPI (P less than 0.05), in particular due to less dorsal angulation (P less than 0.001) and less radial shortening. The functional recovery was equal after 7 weeks and 3 months. At 6 months, 92% satisfactory results were achieved after FUSU versus 86% after DPI (P less than 0.05). Both anatomical and functional benefits were recorded in Frykman type V, VI, and VIII fractures and in the group of displaced intra-articular fractures. The functional benefit from FUSU is suggested primarily to be secondary to decreased fracture redislocation. Fractures of the fifth metacarpal can be treated non-operatively by plaster immobilisation or functional taping. In order to evaluate the better treatment policy, the two methods were compared in a prospective randomised series. We treated 25 patients with an ulnar gutter plaster-cast splintage and 25 with functional tape. Functional recovery was evaluated after one week and four weeks, three months and six months. Mobility, power-grip, pulling- and torque strengths were measured. The change in fracture angulation was calculated at the one and four-week follow-up. Residual symptoms were evaluated after six months. The functional tape group showed significant earlier functional recovery. After six months, there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to functional and anatomical results or the number of patients with residual symptoms. In both groups, we noted a change in fracture angulation only in those fractures that had been reduced. We conclude that fractures of the 5th metacarpal are better treated by functional taping than by cast immobilisation. To compare the results of treating unstable distal radius fractures either by percutaneous pinning and casting, or by traditional closed reduction and casting.
                Prospective, randomized.
                University hospital.
                Forty patients with unstable Frykmann III-VIII distal radius fractures resulting from a fall.
                Twenty patients were treated with closed reduction, consisting of manipulation, under local anesthesia, followed by casting. Twenty patients were treated with percutaneous fixation using K-wires, followed by casting.
                Initial displacement, quality of reduction, carpal malalignment, articular step-off. Range of motion and grip strength were measured using a scoring system reported by Home et al. (10).
                Functional results in the pinning group were better (excellent, 12; good, 6; fair, 2) than in the plaster group (excellent, 3; good, 8; fair, 5; poor, 4). Anatomic results also were better in the pinning group.
                The best anatomic and functional results were obtained by percutaneous pinning. Although the cost of pins and plaster treatment is significantly greater than plaster treatment, the author believes that the positive end result justifies the cost. Focused rigidity casting was compared with standard casting in a randomised prospective study. Two hundred consecutive patients attending a fracture clinic were assigned to have either a standard cast consisting of synthetic or plaster of paris, or a focused rigidity cast of synthetic material. Patients were assessed using a specially developed scoring system termed the Bradford Plaster Index. In patients with fractures of the base of fifth metatarsal, focused rigidity casting proved superior to traditional techniques for ability score (p=0.0001), satisfaction score (p=0.0023), overall impairment of function (p=0.019), limitation of movement following cast removal (p=0.024) and in limitation of muscle strength following cast removal (p=0.001). In fractures of the distal radius, focused rigidity casting was superior for ability score (p=0.0002) and satisfaction score (p=0.00009). Patients with scaphoid fractures were better for satisfaction score (p=0.0483). Compared with the standard technique, focused rigidity casting has been shown to be superior to traditional methods with regard to satisfaction and functional scores without any detriment to clinical results. Distal radial fractures are common, and many methods of treatment have been reported but there are no studies that compare the different treatment methods. This randomized prospective study demonstrated no advantage in using an external fixator to immobilize reduced distal radial fractures over closed reduction and plaster cast immobilization in patients less than 60 years of age. The external fixator group had a significant complication rate. A prospective randomized trial was carried out in 60 consecutive patients with Colles' fractures requiring manipulation. They were treated by either a standard Colles' plaster (control group) or in a functional plaster brace applied immediately after reduction of the fracture. The brace extended from the proximal radius and ulna to the level of the radial styloid and allowed a full range of movement at the radiocarpal joint. Both groups comprised 30 patients and were matched for age, sex and dominance of hand. There was no significant difference in initial severity of fracture or the quality of reduction. Radiological results on cast removal (35-42 days) were significantly better in the brace group compared with those treated with a below-elbow cast (P less than 0.05). Wrist function was also significantly better in the brace treated group at 12 weeks after fracture (P less than 0.05). This brace has a number of advantages over standard plaster treatment, but requires a degree of skill and experience in its application. A prefabricated brace has now been developed with a similar 'built in' three-point loading which will be easier for inexperienced staff to apply. We performed a prospective, randomised study on 57 patients older than 60 years of age with unstable, extra-articular fractures of the distal radius to compare the outcome of immobilisation in a cast alone with that using supplementary, percutaneous pinning. Patients treated by percutaneous wires had a statistically significant improvement in dorsal angulation (mean 7 degrees), radial length (mean 3 mm) and radial inclination (mean 3 mm) at one year. However, there was no significant difference in functional outcome in terms of pain, range of movement, grip strength, activities of daily living and the SF-36 score except for an improved range of movement in ulnar deviation in the percutaneous wire group. One patient developed a pin-track infection which required removal of the wires at two weeks. We conclude that percutaneous pinning of unstable, extra-articular fractures of the distal radius provides only a marginal improvement in the radiological parameters compared with immobilisation in a cast alone. This does not correlate with an improved functional outcome in a low-demand, elderly population.
Bone scaffolding may improve anatomical outcome compared with plaster cast alone but there is insufficient evidence to conclude on functional outcome and safety; or for other comparisons.