SINGLE-BONE FIXATION OF BOTH-BONE FOREARM FRACTURES

Seventeen children with diaphyseal both-bone forearm fractures, for wh ich closed reduction had failed, were treated with fixation of either the radius or ulna. Sixteen were followed up to their clinical end poi nt. Results in all children were excellent; all had a full return of m otion except two who lacked 5 degrees of pronation. This retrospective series is the first reported to date looking exclusively at diaphysea l both-bone forearm fractures in children treated with fixation of a s ingle bone. The rationale of treatment is to stabilize one bone while the other is rotated into reduction. Repeated anesthetics are avoided, and malreduction is prevented without adult-style both-bone plating. We prefer intramedullary fixation as hardware is easier and safer to p lace and remove.