OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy of trapezoid pad coordinate with small splint fixation treatment with plaster slab fixation treatment for comminuted Colles fracture.

METHODSFrom October 2010 to March 2012,80 outpatients with comminuted Colles fracture were divided into two groups. There were 40 patients in trapezoid pad splint fixation treatment group and 40 patients in pipe type plaster control group. There were 13 males and 27 females in trapezoid pad splint fixation treatment group,with an average age of (62.1 +/- 19.2) years old. And there were 15 males and 25 females in pipe type plaster control group,with an average age of (60.2 +/- 19.5) years old. After treated with manipulative reduction,the fractures were fixed with pipe plaster in the control group, and were fixed with trapezoid pad joint by small splint in the treatment group. The patients in both groups were regularly taken X-ray recheck and changed dressings to obtain the clinical healing. Patients were guided to do functional exercise after splints were taken off. The therapeutic effects were evaluated according to Gartland-Werlley wrist score when splints taken off and after 2 months.

RESULTSAccording to wrist score, the average scores in the treatment group were (8.1 +/- 2.8) when splints taken off and (5.3 +/- 4.5) after 2 months. And the average scores in the control group were (10.3 +/- 2.6) when splints taken off and (8.4 +/- 5.8) after 2 months. The score in the treatment group was higher than that of control group. The average shortened lengths of radius were (4.8 + 1.7) mm in the treatment group and (8.2 +/- 2.1) mm in the control group. The shortened length of control group was larger than that of treatment group.

CONCLUSIONTrapezoid pad coordinated with small splint fixation is better than traditional pipe type plaster for treating comminuted Colles fracture.