CONGENITAL PSEUDOARTHROSIS OF THE FOREARM - TREATMENT OF 6 CASES WITHVASCULARIZED FIBULAR GRAFT AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Six cases of pseudarthrosis of the forearm are reported. One involved only the radius, one the ulna alone, and four both forearm bones. Ther e was associated neurofibromatosis in five cases. All the cases were t reated by wide resection and free vascularized fibular graft. In two c ases, a single-bone forearm was created. In all cases, good results we re achieved, with moderate forearm shortening. The literature suggests electrical stimulation, corticoperiosteal graft, osteotomy of the inv olved bone, and free vascularized bone grafting as treatment alternati ves. Vascularized free bone grafting appears to be more successful tha n other treatments. The use of microsurgical sutures permits this trea tment in young patients.