A Scintimetric Study of Colles' Fracture

Abstract

In order to study whether bone cement (methylmethacrylate) inserted in the medullary cavity of redisplaced Colles' fractures to fill the dorsal defect arising after repeat reduction is an obstacle to bony union, the course of healing was monitored by scintimetry in fractures thus treated (n=10), in fractures treated by external fixation (n= 10), and in undisplaced fractures immobilized in a plaster cast. No differences emerged between the three groups. It is therefore assumed that the insertion of bone cement does not disturb the healing process.