A NEW FUNCTIONAL BRACE FOR THE TREATMENT OF COLLES FRACTURES

A new prefabricated brace for the functional treatment of Colles' frac tures has been developed. It is applied at fracture reduction and main tains fracture position by the application of three-point loading. In a prospective randomized clinical trial treating 85 displaced Colles' fractures, with blind independent follow-up, the brace gave better fun ctional results than conventional plaster treatment. The improved func tion was apparent up to 6 months after injury. Finger function and pin ch strength were also better in the brace-treated patients. Anatomical results were similar in the two groups.