Abstract
INTRODUCTION COLLES’ fractures are usually treated by closed reduction and the application of a forearm plaster cast to maintain the reduction and immobilize the wrist. Colles (1814) Charnley (I 96 I ) and Watson-Jones (I 976) mentioned the development, after treatment, of hand and finger swelling. This oedema suggests an increase in the venous pressure component of the Starling equation (governing pressures across the capillary semipermeable membrane) that initiates the ischaemia/oedema cycle (Eaton and Green, 1972). Ultimately, this can lead to the rare condition of Volkmann’s contracture (Volkmann. 1881; Mubarak et al., 1978). This is a very uncommon complication of Colles’ fracture (Rockwood and Green, 1975). Sudeck’s atrophy is more common and Channon and Lloyd (I 979) have shown that the cause of this disabling complication could be ischaemic change within the interosseous spaces ofthe hand. We decided to investigate this possibility by using a non-invasive technique to measure pressure increases within a Colles’ plaster.
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