[Functional fracture treatment of the forearm. The indications and results].

In a retrospective study from 1986 to 1995, 64 forearm fractures were treated with brace. Clinical and roentgenographic follow-up data were available for 49 patients (76.6%). There were 49.0% ulna shaft, 38.9% radius and 12.2% forearm fractures. The average time to healing was 10.2 weeks. Functional results were excellent in 57.1%, good in 34.7% and poor in 8.2% of cases. Two (4.1%) fractures (radius, forearm shaft) were not considered as healed and were re-operated with plate osteosynthesis. The ideal indication for fracture bracing is ulna shaft fracture. Radius and forearm shaft fractures can also be treated, but patients must be informed about the long time to healing and operative alternatives.