Some years ago it was decided to study the end results of Colles' fracture. A chart was prepared and an attempt made to follow patients at least two years. This objective was attained in only 46 of the 361 cases of Colles' fracture studied. However, 35 other cases were followed long enough for the end result to be determined, making a total of 81. Over this same period my colleagues and I ascertained the late results in an additional 54 cases (not included in our 361) with enough deformity of the wrist to be recognized as cases of old Colles' fracture. All 361 patients in this series were treated in a similar manner. The sole important variable was the amount of wrist flexion in which immobilization was carried out after manual reduction. Only plaster splint fixation was used. The dorsal splint was carried distal to the knuckles and the volar