ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF FOREARM BONES AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR THE OPERATIVETREATMENT OF FRACTURES

The operative exposure of a fracture in an osteosynthesis causes distu rbances in the blood supply, which often leads to a prolonged process of healing or even to healing problems, a fracture non-union, which is frequently located at the forearm. In order to damage the supplying v essels as little as possible, the position, direction and penetration of the arteries of radius and ulna are demonstrated and systematised i n this study. Near the elbow arteries, coming from large adjoining ves sels, penetrate the area of the capsular insertion. The nutrient arter ies enter both bones in the second proximal quarter of diaphysis, at t he radius from anterior to medial, at the ulna from anterior to antero radial. Small vessels, which penetrate closely proximal to the articul ar surface in order to supply the distal forearm bones, come from an a nastomosis between the radial, the interosseous and the ulnar arteries . In this study access vessels, choice and position of implants will b e discussed.