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Management of undisplaced or minimally displaced Colles' fracture: One or three weeks of immobilization

  • Original Articles
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Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Sixty-two consecutive patients with an undisplaced or minimally displaced Colles' fracture were allocated at random to 1 or 3 weeks of immobilization in a dorsal plaster cast. No significant difference in radiographic results or in functional score, (according to Gartland and Werley 1951, modified by Solgaard 1988) was observed at 12 and 26 weeks. We conclude that patients with an undisplaced or minimally displaced Colles' fracture can be safely treated with only 1 week of immobilization in a dorsal plaster cast. However, the short treatment period does not accelerate return of function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaards Alle 30, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Michael Reinhold Jensen, Kim Holck Andersen & Claus Hjorth Jensen

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  1. Michael Reinhold Jensen
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  2. Kim Holck Andersen
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  3. Claus Hjorth Jensen
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Jensen, M.R., Andersen, K.H. & Jensen, C.H. Management of undisplaced or minimally displaced Colles' fracture: One or three weeks of immobilization. J Orthop Sci 2, 424–427 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02488930

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02488930

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