MANAGEMENT OF FOREARM DEFORMITY IN MULTIPLE HEREDITARY OSTEOCHONDROMATOSIS

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.