Twenty-seven cases of so-called Colles' fracture treated conservatively were studied.
All cases were immobilized by plaster cast or splint in a position of ulnal and palmar flexion after manual reduction, and some displacement developed within 2 weeks in 16 cases (59%). In 8 cases, of which the position was changed in a neutral position in 2 weeks, the displacement occured in 7 cases (88%). Out of 18 cases followed up, clinical results were unsatisfactory in 12 cases with shortening of the radius on X-rays, showing limitation of pronation and supination.
While the clinical results were not so poor as the X-ray findings, an anatomical reduction was considered to be desirable.
