PROGRESSIVE LENGTHENING OF FOREARM BONES IN MULTIPLE OSTEOCHONDROMAS

Progressive lengthening of the forearm bones was performed in seven pa tients with forearm deformities caused by multiple osteochondromas. Ul na alone was lengthened in four, and both radius and ulna were lengthe ned in three. Amount of lengthening of the ulna ranged from 16 to 41 m m (average 31 mm). The radius was lengthened by 19, 24, and 37 mm, res pectively. Duration between operation and removal of an external fixat or ranged from 89 to 343 days (average 226 days). One patient had radi al nerve dysfunction during distraction of the ulna, and fracture occu rred in three at the lengthened site of the ulna. Because the radius i s dragged down distally during distraction of the ulna, we recommend d issection of the cordlike portion of the interosseous membrane to prev ent distal migration of the radius.