Abstract
Nonunions of the forearm are rare, but do occur. Many people are able to function well in their daily life with a nonunion. However, a nonunion of the forearm can also result in disability and the inability to perform normal daily activities. For this purpose, nonunions are often treated surgically. We discuss the etiology, appropriate medical and surgical evaluation, surgical treatment, and anticipated outcomes of nonunions of the forearm.
Keywords
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
McGinley JC, Kozin SH. Interosseous membrane anatomy and functional mechanics. Clin Orthop. 2001;383:108–22.
Ward LD, Ambrose CG, Masson MV, Levaro F. The role of the distal radioulnar ligaments, interosseous membrane, and joint capsule in distal radioulnar joint stability. J Hand Surg Am. 2000;25(2):341–51.
Watanabe H, Berger RA, Berglund LJ, Zobitz ME, An KN. Contribution of the interosseous membrane to distal radioulnar joint constraint. J Hand Surg Am. 2005;30(6):1164–71.
Kihara H, Short WH, Werner FW, Fortino MD, Palmer AK. The stabilizing mechanism of the distal radioulnar joint during pronation and supination. J Hand Surg Am. 1995;20(6):930–6.
Soubeyrand M, Wassermann V, Hirsch C, Oberlin C, Gagey O, Dumontier C. The middle radioulnar joint and triarticular forearm complex. J Hand Surg Eur. 2011;36(6):447–54.
Morrey BF, Askew LJ, Chao EY. A biomechanical study of normal functional elbow motion. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981;63(6):872–7.
Tarr RR, Garfinkel AI, Sarmiento A. The effects of angular and rotational deformities of both bones of the forearm. An in vitro study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984;66(1):65–70.
Youm Y, Dryer RF, Thambyrajah K, Flatt AE, Sprague BL. Biomechanical analyses of forearm pronation-supination and elbow flexion-extension. J Biomech. 1979;12(4):245–55.
Jinkins WJ Jr, Lockhart LD, Eggers GW. Fractures of the forearm in adults. South Med J. 1960;53:669–79.
Burwell HN, Charnley AD. Treatment of forearm fractures in adults with particular reference to plate fixation. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1964;46:404–25.
Sage FP, Smith H. Medullary fixation of forearm fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1957;39-A(1):91–8.
Schemitsch EH, Richards RR. The effect of malunion on functional outcome after plate fixation of fractures of both bones of the forearm in adults. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1992;74(7):1068–78.
Boland, MR. Open reduction and internal fixation of diaphyseal forearm fractures. In: Wiesel, SW, editor. Operative techniques in orthopaedic surgery. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2011. p. 2127–9.
Llusa Perez M, Meri Vived A, Ruano Gil D. Surgical atlas of the musculoskelatal system. 1st ed. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2008. p. 61–5.
Huang JI, Hanel DP. Anatomy and biomechanics of the distal radioulnar joint. Hand Clin. 2012;28(2):157–63.
Hotchkiss RN, An KN, Sowa DT, Basta S, Weiland AJ. An anatomic and mechanical study of the interosseous membrane of the forearm: pathomechanics of proximal migration of the radius. J Hand Surg Am. 1989;14(2 Pt 1):256–61.
Poitevin LA. Anatomy and biomechanics of the interosseous membrane: its importance in the longitudinal stability of the forearm. Hand Clin. 2001;17(1):97–110, vii.
Nakamura T, Yabe Y, Horiuchi Y. Functional anatomy of the interosseous membrane of the forearm—dynamic changes during rotation. Hand Surg. 1999;4(1):67–73.
Noda K, Goto A, Murase T, Sugamoto K, Yoshikawa H, Moritomo H. Interosseous membrane of the forearm: an anatomical study of ligament attachment locations. J Hand Surg Am. 2009;34(3):415–22.
Skahen JR 3rd, Palmer AK, Werner FW, Fortino MD. The interosseous membrane of the forearm: anatomy and function. J Hand Surg Am. 1997;22(6):981–5.
Schneiderman G, Meldrum RD, Bloebaum RD, Tarr R, Sarmiento A. The interosseous membrane of the forearm: structure and its role in Galeazzi fractures. J Trauma. 1993;35(6):879–85.
Chapman MW, Gordon JE, Zissimos AG. Compression-plate fixation of acute fractures of the diaphyses of the radius and ulna. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989;71(2):159–69.
Stewart RL. Operative treatment of radius and ulna diaphyseal nonunions. In: Wiesel SW, editor. Operative techniques in orthopaedic surgery. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011. p. 2156–61.
Maes JM, Van Velthoven V. Clinical and statistical research on the occurrence of pseudarthrosis of ulna and radius in forearm fractures. Acta Orthop Belg. 1977;43(6):767–80.
Knight RA, Purvis GD. Fractures of both bones of the forearm in adults. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1949;31A(4):755–64.
Sage FP. Medullary fixation of fractures of the forearm. A study of the medullary canal of the radius and a report of fifty fractures of the radius treated with a prebent triangular nail. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1959;41-A:1489–516.
Hughston JC. Fracture of the distal radial shaft; mistakes in management. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1957;39-A(2):249–264; passim.
Caden JG. Internal fixation of fractures of the forearm. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1961;43(8):1115–21.
Hicks JH. Fractures of the forearm treated by rigid fixation. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1961;43-B:680–7.
Sargent JP, Teipner WA. Treatment of forearm shaft fractures by double-plating; a preliminary report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1965;47(8):1475–90.
Anderson LD, Sisk D, Tooms RE, Park WI 3rd. Compression-plate fixation in acute diaphyseal fractures of the radius and ulna. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1975;57(3):287–97.
Richard MJ, Ruch DS, Aldridge JM 3rd. Malunions and nonunions of the forearm. Hand Clin. 2007;23(2):235–243, vii.
Shelton WR, Sage FP. Modified Nicoll-graft treatment of gap non-unions in the upper extremity. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981;63(2):226–31.
Moroni A, Rollo G, Guzzardella M, Zinghi G. Surgical treatment of isolated forearm non-union with segmental bone loss. Injury. 1997;28(8):497–504.
Ring D, Allende C, Jafarnia K, Allende BT, Jupiter JB. Ununited diaphyseal forearm fractures with segmental defects: plate fixation and autogenous cancellous bone-grafting. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004;86-A(11):2440–5.
Wood MB. Upper extremity reconstruction by vascularized bone transfers: results and complications. J Hand Surg Am. 1987;12(3):422–7.
Jupiter JB, Gerhard HJ, Guerrero J, Nunley JA, Levin LS. Treatment of segmental defects of the radius with use of the vascularized osteoseptocutaneous fibular autogenous graft. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997;79(4):542–50.
Dell PC, Sheppard JE. Vascularized bone grafts in the treatment of infected forearm nonunions. J Hand Surg Am. 1984;9(5):653–8.
Davey PA, Simonis RB. Modification of the Nicoll bone-grafting technique for nonunion of the radius and/or ulna. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2002;84(1):30–3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Science+Business Media LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Corley, F.G., Francisco, B.S. (2018). Nonunions of the Forearm. In: Agarwal, A. (eds) Nonunions. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7178-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7178-7_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7176-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7178-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)