A retrospective study was carried out to compare the functional outcome in two groups of patients who were 60 years old or older. One group had Colles' fractures, which had been reduced and did not redisplace. The other group's fractures redisplaced and were treated conservatively. Of the 11 patients in the first group, 82% had excellent or good functional outcome, which was not significantly different when compared with the second group of 25 patients with 68% having excellent or good functional outcome.