[Colles' fracture. Therapeutic results and use of resources. A comparative study between 2 departments in the same...

A comparison between the functional end results of Colles' fractures, treated in two different hospitals, was performed by a follow up study of 100 patients from each hospital 18-24 months after fracture. The difference between the requirements of resources in the two hospitals were mainly: treatment of patients as outpatients or during admission and the method of anaesthesia. No significant difference in functional end result between the two groups was found. It was concluded that local anaesthesia in the fracture haematoma often is insufficient and is unpleasant for the patient. A more effective anaesthesia which can be applied polyclinically is preferable, as anaesthesia, which demands admission to the hospital, is an expensive solution and does not give a better functional end result. The "sandwich" type plaster of Paris bandage is more comfortable, safer to use with outpatients and is therefore preferable to the circular plaster of Paris bandage.