[Colles fracture and instability of wrist joint]

We reviewed 51 cases of colles fracture patients with 3-6 years follow-up and found 20 cases had dorsal carpal subluxation (DCS) in this group. Long term results were analysed and compared between the simple Colles fracture and the Colles fracture with DCS. It was shown that the remote function of the wrist in the simple Colles fracture was much more satisfactory than in that with DCS. That indicated the DCS is a very important factor to the late results of the wrist after Colles fracture. The authors pointed out that the DCS occurs frequently in the severely displaced type caused by high energy force and in the fracture associated with scapholunate dissociation. During the close reduction of the Colles fracture associated with DCS, correction of the palmar angulation and decrease of the angle of palmar tilt should be required, as well as the neutral or light dorsal flexion fixation of the wrist after reduction.