OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of U-shaped gypsum functional fixation after closed manipulative reduction for treatment of Colles' fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2011 to April 2014,47 cases of Colles fracture were treated by closed reduction and U-shaped gypsum functional fixation including 12 males and 35 females with an average age of 54.8 years old ranging from 8 to 72 years old. The time from injury to treatment was 40 min to 3 d. The patients were closed fractures without neurovascular injury. After manual reduction and U-shaped gypsum functional fixation, the thumb of injury hand were traction by contralateral hand, and other fingers of injury hand were taken flexion to exercise grip function. According to the situation of fracture healing, plaster was removed at 4 to 8 weeks' fixation, the wrist joint functional exercise was strengthened after plaster removed.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 6 to 12 months with an average of 6.4 months, the fracture healing time was 4 to 8 weeks. According to the Cooney wrist function scoring: the result was excellent in 44 cases, good in 2 cases, 1 case.

CONCLUSIONU-shape gypsum functional fixation for treatment of Colles fracture limits the activity of thumb and extensor tendon, can reduce shortening of radial by traction of the injury thumb with the contralateral hand; it is good for blood circulation of hand and wrist, and swelling.