Executive Editor: Chris Colton

Authors: Dominik Heim, Shai Luria, Rami Mosheiff, Yoram Weil

Forearm shaft

back to skeleton

Glossary

Basic treatment techniques
Oblique ulnar fracture: lag screw and plate fixation
Oblique radial fracture: lag screw and plate fixation
Transverse ulnar fracture: compression plating
Transverse radial fracture: compression plating
Ulnar wedge fracture: compression plating (and lag screw)
Radial wedge fracture: compression plating (and lag screw)
Segmental ulnar fracture: compression plating
Segmental radial fracture: compression plating
Comminuted ulnar fracture: bridge plating
Comminuted radial fracture: bridge plating
DRUJ stabilization (Galeazzi fracture-dislocation)
Radial head stabilization (Monteggia fracture-dislocation)
Basic technique: Modular external fixation

Oblique simple fracture of the ulna

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Minimally displaced fractures Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Lag screw and plate fixation Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Transverse simple fracture of the ulna

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Minimally displaced fractures Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression plating Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Simple fracture of the ulna, with dislocation of proximal radioulnar joint (Monteggia)

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Surgical treatment not possible Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Plating Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Oblique simple fracture of the radius

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Minimally displaced fractures Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Lag screw and plate fixation Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Transverse simple fracture of the radius

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Minimally displaced fractures Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
MIO - Minimally invasive compression plating Transverse distal third radial shaft fractures Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Full specialized surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression plating Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Simple fracture of the radius, with dislocation of distal radioulnar joint (Galeazzi)

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Surgical treatment not possible Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Plating Treatment of choice Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Simple surgical and imaging resources

Simple fracture of the radius and the ulna

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Minimally displaced fractures Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression Plating Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Wedge fracture of the ulna with no dislocation

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Minimally displaced fractures Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression Plating Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Wedge fracture of the ulna, with dislocation of proximal radioulnar joint (Monteggia)

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression Plating Treatment of choice Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Simple surgical and imaging resources

Wedge fracture of the radius with no dislocation

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Minimally displaced fractures Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression Plating Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Wedge fracture of the radius, with dislocation of distal radioulnar joint (Galeazzi)

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression plating Treatment of choice Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Simple surgical and imaging resources

Wedge fracture of one bone, with a simple or wedge fracture of the other

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment May be an option in compromised patients Some specialized surgical experience Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression plating Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources

Multifragmentary ulnar fracture with non-multifragmentary radial fracture

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Severely injured polytrauma patients; patients who are medically unfit for surgery Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Plating of one or both bones Treatment of choice Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Simple surgical and imaging resources
Intramedullary nailing Treatment option in the presence of severe soft-tissue injury Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Full specialized surgical and imaging resources

Multifragmentary radial fracture with non-multifragmentary ulnar fracture

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Severely injured polytrauma patients Some specialized surgical experience Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Plating of one or both bones Treatment of choice Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
Intramedullary nailing Treatment option in the presence of severe soft-tissue injury Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Full specialized surgical and imaging resources

Multifragmentary, intact segmental fracture of both bones

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Severely injured polytrauma patients Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Compression plating Treatment of choice Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Simple surgical and imaging resources

Multifragmentary, intact segmental fracture of one bone, fragmentary of the other

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Severely injured polytrauma patients Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
Intramedullary nailing Irregular fractures with severe soft-tissue injury (see discussion) Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Full specialized surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Plating Treatment of choice Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Simple surgical and imaging resources

Multifragmentary, fragmentary segmental fracture of both bones

Please select a treatment option:
Treatment Indication summary Skill Equipment
Nonoperative treatment Severely injured polytrauma patients Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic equipment only
External fixation A means of temporary fixation for severely open fractures Some specialized surgical experience Simple surgical and imaging resources
Intramedullary nailing Treatment option in the presence of severe soft-tissue injury Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Full specialized surgical and imaging resources
ORIF - Bridge plating Treatment of choice in the absence of severe soft-tissue injury Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Simple surgical and imaging resources

Special considerations
Principles underlying forearm shaft fracture treatment
Infection
Compartment syndrome
Principles of management of open fractures
*Skill
Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills Basic surgical experience, no specialized skills
Some specialized surgical experience Some specialized surgical experience
Highly experienced and skilled surgeon Highly experienced and skilled surgeon
*Equipment
Basic equipment only Basic equipment only
Simple surgical and imaging resources Simple surgical and imaging resources
Full specialized surgical and imaging resources Full specialized surgical and imaging resources

v2.0 2013-07-09