ONE-BONE FOREARM AS A SALVAGE PROCEDURE FOR RECALCITRANT FOREARM DEFORMITY IN HEREDITARY MULTIPLE EXOSTOSES

Hereditary multiple exostoses commonly affect the forearm and cause si gnificant deformity. The response of this disease to operative interve ntion is usually gratifying, but in recalcitrant cases salvage procedu res may be necessary. We report two patients treated with radial-ulnar fusion, review the technical aspects of the creation of the so-called ''one-bone forearm,'' and discuss the classification and treatment al ternatives available to surgeons treating patients with forearm exosto ses. Treatment of both forearms resulted in functional, painless extre mities at 3- and 14-year follow-up.