Forearm Fractures and Instabilities-Forearm Instability

Forearm Instability

Pdf Summary

Forearm instability is a complex problem that occurs as a result of trauma and can lead to chronic longitudinal forearm instability if not adequately treated. The primary stabilizers of the forearm, the radial head, the interosseous membrane (IOM), and the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), can be injured in cases of forearm instability. Prompt recognition and treatment of these injuries is crucial to prevent poor patient outcomes. Physical examination findings such as tenderness at the mid-dorsal forearm, the DRUJ, and/or the fovea, along with radiographic imaging, can help in diagnosing longitudinal forearm instability. Treatment options for acute injuries include repair or replacement of the radial head and repair of the TFCC. Chronic injuries may require an ulnar-shortening osteotomy and reconstruction of the IOM with a tendon graft or synthetic graft. In severe cases, creation of a radioulnar synostosis, or "1-bone forearm," may be necessary to eliminate forearm instability. Long-term outcomes for these treatment options are not yet known.

Keywords

forearm instability

trauma

chronic longitudinal forearm instability

radial head

interosseous membrane

triangular fibrocartilage complex

injury

diagnosis

treatment options

long-term outcomes