Both bone fractures of the forearm: a review of surgical variables associated with union

A review of 54 patients with both bone fractures of the forearm was undertaken in order to determine the relationship of various fixation devices to the treatment success rate. Three major types of fixation were utilized: conventional plates, compression plates and intramedullary rods.Only one patient had primary bone grafting, regardless of the degree of comminution. Eleven patients had delayed bone grafting an average of five months post injury. There was one non-union. Nineteen patients had open reduction delayed from one to three weeks and all healed primarily.All fractures which were anatomically reduced healed primarily, regardless of the type of fixation. The highest incidence of anatomic reduction (74%) was achieved with compression plate fixation. Conventional plate fixation was accompanied by the lowest incidence of anatomic reduction.