A comparative study on the treatment results of stable extra-articular distal radius fracture with non-surgical local and general anesthesia methods

Abstract   Introduction: Colles’ Fracture is one of the most prevalent fractures among adults. For the cases of stable fractures, the standard treatment method is first close reduction under general, regional or local anesthesia and then casting. This study aimed to compare the treatment results of colles’ fracture under local anesthesia with those under general anesthesia. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 100 subjects with stable colles’ fracture were selected from an accessible population of patients referred to Kashani Hospital (Isfahan-Iran) from December 2006 to December 2008. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of A and B. In group A, subjects were treated under local anesthesia and in group B they underwent general anesthesia. The subjects’ data including demographic information, type of fracture, complication of reduction, costs of reduction and conditions of reduction, were obtained and subsequently compared on three different times for each of above-mentioned treatment methods: before reduction,  at the first, second and third week after treatment initiation and in the end of treatment. Results: Statistical analysis of obtained data showed that there was no significant difference between complication in the two groups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found between the criteria of reduction in these two groups (P > 0.05). A statistically significant correlation was found between sex and colles’ fracture (P < 0.05). The cost of treatment in group B was significantly higher than group A (3 to 4 times more than group A) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the treatment method of fracture reduction under local anesthesia is more effective than general anesthesia for lower cost, acceptable reduction and without specific complication. It is suggested that local anesthesia be used in reduction of colles’ fracture. Keywords: Colles’ fracture, Close reduction, Local anesthesia.