A Clinical Study on Fracture of Shaft of Forearm Bones

Park, Byeong Mun; Chung, In Hee; Hong, Kwang Pyo

Abstract

To achieve full pronation and supination after fracture, many authors have pointed out the importance of the length of the bones, the absence of the angulatory deformity and rotational deformity, maintenance of the interosseous space and the curves of the radius, especially the lateral bowing of the radius. Over the years many methods of open reduction and internal fixation or the closed method have been advocated and comparisons have been made between the groups treated by the conservative method and open reduction and internal fixation. The authors have reviewed 108 cases of the fracture of the shaft af the forearm bones from 1 January 1971 to 31 March 1979 which were treated in Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine. The following results were obtalned from analysis of the cases studies. 1. There was no difference between the conservative treatment group and the open reduction and internal fixation group for fractures of the radius or ulna alone in fracture heallng time, but there was delay in fracture healing time in the open reduction and internal fixation group compared to the conservative treatment group for fractures of both forearm bones. 2. Satisfactory functional results were shown in the open reduction and internal fixation group rather than in the conservative treatment group. 3. Angulatory deformities were shown in 47.2% of the conservative treatment group and 14.8% of the open reduction and internal fixatlon group. 4. In selected cases, an Evan's tuberosity view was taken and rotational deformities were shown in 30.0% of the conservative treatment group and in 8.8% of the open reduction and internal fixation group. 5. There was no difference between the conservative treatment group and the open reduction and internal fixatlon group in non-union rate and delayed union rate.