Fractures of Forearm Bones

Forearm bone fractures are difficult to manage, because of their special functions (pronation and supination) and peculiar anatomy. Authors have experienced 68 cases of various types of forearm bone fractures from January, 1968 to December, 1971. They were analized as following. 1. Out of 68 patients, males were 54 cases (79.4%) and females were 14 cases (30.6%). Among them, 91.2% of the cases were occured in people over 15 years old. About 47% of the cases were caused by automobile accidents. 2. Both forearm bone fractures were 51 cases (75%), and most common site of the fractures were mid 1/3(66.2%). Stable (transverse or incomplete) fractures were 24%, and unstable(comminuted, segmental, oblique or spiral) fractures were 76%. Open fractures were 26.5% 3. Conservative treatment was given to 41 cases (60.3%), and open reduction & internal fixation was given to 27 cases (39%). 4. A comparison has been made between the groups treated by conservative method and open reduction & internal fixation. 1) Average healing time of open reduction group was 19.5 weeks and conservative group was 16.4 weeks. 2) Non-union was occured in 7.4% of conservative treatment group, and 22.7% of open reduction group. 3) Satisfactory functional results were shown in 23.5% of conservative group and 54.5% of open reduction & internal fixation group. 4) Rotational deformities were noticed in 53.3% of the conservative treatment group and 54.5% of the open reduction group (No difference was noticed). 5) Angulatory deformities were shown in 70.4% of the conservative treatment group and 44.4% of the open reduction group. 5. Three cases were complicated by cross unoin, and no postoperative wound infection was noted. But two cases of open fracture developed to chronic osteomyelitis.