The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 61, Issue 6 840-845, Copyright © 1979 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
External pin fixation for unstable Colles' fractures
WP Cooney, RL Linscheid and JH Dobyns
During a five-year period, a double-pin Roger Anderson apparatus, with pins
perpendicularly placed in the second and third metacarpals and in the
distal part of the radius, was applied in 130 patients with an unstable
Colles fracture. Sixty of the 130 were followed for two years. Shortening
was limited to a median of two millimeters and dorsal angulation, to a
median of 3 degrees. Wrist dorsiflexion averaged 58 degrees, and volar
flexion averaged 50 degrees. Pronation and supination had an average loss
of 5 degrees when compared with the uninjured side. Repeat reduction was
required in only three patients. Patient assessment revealed that 85 per
cent of the patients had good results; 12 per cent, fair; and 3 per cent,
unsatisfactory. Objective analysis (McBride system) revealed that 90 per
cent had good to excellent results; 8 per cent, fair; and 2 per cent, poor.
Ninety-two per cent had no pain, 89 per cent had no deformity, and the mean
grip strength was twenty kilograms. Sixteen patients had complications;
seven of the sixteen had pin loosening, which occurred most frequently late
during the course of treatment and without adverse sequelae.
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