Abstract

RASOOL, MN. Radioulnar fusion for forearm defects in children - a salvage procedure. SA orthop. j. [online]. 2008, vol.7, n.1, pp.60-67. ISSN 2309-8309.

Eight children aged 1-14 yrs with defects in the forearm were treated with the one-bone forearm procedure and followed up for 1-11 yrs. The defects were due to pyogenic osteomyelitis (n=3), osteochondroma (n=3), neurofibromatosis (n=1) and ulnar dysmelia (n=1). The radius was fixed to the ulna shaft with an intramedullary pin in six cases, and two children had centralisation of the radial metaphysis onto the ulna for "radial club hand" type deformity with Kirschner wires. All forearms united in 3-6 months. Shortening ranged from 1-10 cm. Fixed flexion deformity of the elbow (20°) resulted in one child and cubitus valgus (20°) occurred in another. One child had a radial articular tilt of 45°. The procedure achieved stability at the wrist and elbow. There was cosmetic and functional improvement in all patients.

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