COLLES FRACTURE SPLINT

Numerous types of splints have been described for maintaining the reduction of a Colles fracture of the wrist. I have used many of them—nonpadded plaster, wooden, sugar tong plaster, anterior and posterior plaster molds, Schede's splint and commercial form-fit splints—but now regularly use the plaster splint to be described because it is easily applied, comfortable and efficient and it prevents complications. The two most distressing complications not infrequently observed are recurrence of radial deviation deformity of the distal fragment of the radius and hand and loss of function of the fingers and thumb because of adhesions and contractures of tendon sheaths and tendons. The plaster splint is applied over stockinet. Not more than two or three 4 inch plaster of paris rolls are used. No padding is used except for a small piece of felt over the radial or thumb site of the second metacarpal bone. Pressure at this point