Reduction of Colles' fractures without anaesthesia using a new dynamic bone alignment system

Two techniques for reduction of Colles' fractures were compared in a prospective, randomized study. With use of a newly designed dynamic bone alignment device, reduction manoeuvres were performed on 62 patients with Colles' fractures (group A) without any form of anaesthesia. In a control group of 54 patients (group B) Colles' fractures were reduced manually in the traditional way using local infiltration anaesthesia. In each group the pain experienced by the patients was recorded. Severe pain during the reduction was reported by 8 per cent of the patients in group A and by 35 per cent of those in group B. No complications occurred during or after dynamic reduction without anaesthesia. This method of treatment seems to be a very gentle one for the patients, with the advantage of causing less pain than treatment under local anaesthesia.