Traumatic bowing of the forearm in an adult

A 24-year-old woman sustained a low-velocity, continuous pressure injury to the right forearm from a conveyer belt machine. The accident caused bowing of the radius and ulna, an injury not previously reported in adults. A closed manipulation with the patient under general anesthesia required considerable force to obtain partial reduction of the radial bowing and almost complete correction of the ulnar bowing. Follow-up examination at two years demonstrated no loss of position but persistent radial bowing. The injury is a good illustration of plastic deformation in bone which is a rare condition in adults due to the elastic properties of bone and typical fracture mechanics.