Thorough Debridement Facilitated by Timely Planning of One-Bone Forearm Surgery: A Report of 2 Cases.

CASES: Two patients with complex open forearm fractures underwent initial treatment with radioulnar fusion (arthrodesis of the radius to the ulna)-one patient sustained elbow and forearm injuries in a car accident and the other had an elbow injury caused by conveyor belt entanglement.

CONCLUSIONS

Differentiating viable tissue from nonviable tissue is important in the management of potentially contaminated wounds. Arthrodesis of the radius to the ulna is generally considered a salvage option for complicated forearm instability. The decision to perform arthrodesis of the radius and ulna in the initial treatment facilitated the management of soft-tissue injuries and helped prioritize hand function.