Dm. Arms et al., MANAGEMENT OF FOREARM DEFORMITY IN MULTIPLE HEREDITARY OSTEOCHONDROMATOSIS, Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 17(4), 1997, pp. 450-454
The records of 97 patients with multiple hereditary osteochondromatosi
s were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-eight patients had one or mor
e osteochondroma(s) of one or both forearm(s). Fifty-three operations
were performed, of which 41 were excisions of symptomatic osteochondro
mas or dislocated radial heads. All forearm, wrist, and elbow radiogra
phs were reviewed. Four common radiographic parameters were measured:
radial articular angle, carpal slip, relative ulnar shortening, and fo
rearm-third metacarpal angle. Thirty-seven of these 78 patients were c
ontacted by telephone questionnaire. The results indicated that skelet
ally mature patients do well on a functional basis and are comfortable
with their appearance, despite deformity. Surgery can improve aesthet
ic appearance and provide pain relief when done before or after skelet
al maturity. Because of these results, we are less aggressive in the e
arly treatment of forearm deformities.