One-bone forearm as a salvage procedure for recalcitrant forearm deformity in hereditary multiple exostoses

Hereditary multiple exostoses commonly affect the forearm and cause significant deformity. The response of this disease to operative intervention is usually gratifying, but in recalcitrant cases salvage procedures may be necessary. We report two patients treated with radial-ulnar fusion, review the technical aspects of the creation of the so-called "one-bone forearm," and discuss the classification and treatment alternatives available to surgeons treating patients with forearm exostoses. Treatment of both forearms resulted in functional, painless extremities at 3- and 14-year follow-up.