Salvage of failed resection of the distal ulna. Case report

A 45-year-old woman completely lost the ability of active supination of the forearm after a Darrach resection for malunited fracture of the distal radius. A three-component reconstruction was performed to stabilise the distal stump of the ulna and prevent convergence between the two forearm bones. The procedure combined advancement lengthening osteotomy of the ulna, longitudinal intramedullary tenodesis of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon, and dorsal transfer of the pronator quadratus through the interosseous space. Four months after the salvage procedure she again had full active supination of the forearm and she returned to work two months later.