The Operative Treatment of the Shaft Fractures of the Forearm Bone

Park, Sang Won; Choi, Geol

Abstract

The reduction and maintenance of the disphyseal fractures of the forearm bone are difficult due to the special rotational movement between two bones. Over the years various methods of operative treatment have been advocated, and good method must be selected as the fracture level, the fracture type, and the patients general condition. From May 1988 to August 1993, the authors have reviewed 50 patients of the forearm shaft fracture except the solitary radius or ulna fracture with minimum 1 year follow up which were treated in Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Korea University Hospital. The results obtained were as follows, 1. The most common cause of injury was the traffic accident(38%) and the next was the fall down(24%). The most frequent level of the fracture was middle one-third(54%) and the most common type of the fracture was transverse fracture(64%). The treatment methods were 32 cases of the compression plate and screw fuation in the radius and ulna, and 18 cases of the compression plate and screw fixation in radius and the intramedullary nailing in ulna. 2. The average duration of the radiological union of compression plate and screw fixation of radius and ulna was 12.5 weeks in radius and 12.1 weeks in ulna, and 12.8 weeks of radius and 15.2 weeks of ulna in cases of compression plate and screw fixation of radius and intramedullary nailing of ulna. 3. According to Grace and Eversmanns evaluation, satisfactory results (Excellent and Good) were 81.5% of compression plate and screw fixation and 83.3.To of compression plate and screw fixation of radius and intramedullary nailing of ulna. 4. Postoperative complication were 2 cases of superFicial wound infection and each 1 case of transient posterior interosseous nerve injury, non-union and non-union with metal failure in compression plate and screw fixation of both radius and ulna, and 1 case of non-union in intramedullary nailing of the ulna.