One-bone forearm fusion for pediatric supination contracture due to neurologic deficit

The purpose of this study was to review the construction of a one-bone fore arm performed to change the position of the forearm in children with fixed supination deformity due to upper extremity neurologic deficit. The one-bon e forearm arthrodesis has been previously described in treating trauma, tum ors, infection, and congenital deformities. II has not been described to im prove forearm position in neurologically impaired upper extremities. We ret rospectively evaluated 6 pediatric patients with upper extremity weakness a nd severe supination contracture who underwent forearm arthrodesis in neutr al or slight pronation. Five patients achieved fusion, and 1 patient had an atrophic nonunion (17% nonunion rate). Average follow-up was 6 years 6 mon ths (range 1 year 9 months to 11 years 2 months), and all patients were sat isfied with their new forearm position. Copyright (C) 2001 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.