Old fracture options

[chapo]

Dear Dr, my father fractured his wrist in 1978, it was apparently a colle's fracture.  They initially said he needed surgery but opted for manipulation and plaster.  Three weeks later the bones shifted and he was put under GA and reset with plaster again. When the plaster came off his ulnar was prominant with thr so called dinner fork appearence quite visible. It looks as though the hand sits over to the side of the radius.   He had limited motion and pain and swelling ever since; just putting up with it.  He is now elderly and uses a walking frame so puts extra strain on the wrist.  My q's are
Should it have been surgically fixed at the time it happened?
Can anything be done now to improve the function of the wrist and reduce fatigue
Thanks

[lyerhc]

i just got a colles fracture they did a open reduction in the er and they are going to finish the surgery on Monday is this the way to go surgery the pain is unbearable

[sonu78]

Hi,
Feel sorry for your father. The colle’s fracture can be treated by a closed reaction and splinting under anesthesia. This is evaluated at weekly intervals to observe for the maintenance of the reduction. If the fracture is not maintained in reduction by the end of three weeks, surgical intervention has to be considered.
In your dad’s case, he should have been treated by open reduction.
To comment about what should have done in 1978 is immaterial and difficult due to ignorance about the situation then.