THE INTEROSSEOUS MEMBRANE IN RADIOULNAR DISSOCIATION

In severe forearm injuries, the diagnosis of disruption of the interos seous membrane is frequently delayed and sometimes missed, giving diff iculties in the salvage of forearm stability. We studied the structure and function of the interosseous membrane in 11 cadaver preparations, using mechanical and histological analysis, Seven of the specimens te sted in uniaxial tension sustained a mid-substance tear of the central band of the membrane at a mean peak load of 1038+/-308 N. The axial s tiffness was 190+/-44 N/mm with elongation to failure of 10.34+/-2.46 mm. These results provide criteria for the evaluation of reconstructiv e methods. A preliminary clinical investigation of the use of ultrasou nd suggests that this may be of value in the screening of patients wit h complex fractures of the forearm, and for investigating the natural history of tears of the interosseous membrane.