Angular deformities and forearm function

Angular deformities were created in cadaver forearms at proximal, middle, and distal third levels of the radius and ulna separately, and at middle and distal third levels of both bones, to determine the corresponding limitations of pronation and supination. The ranges of pronation and supination were recorded using a rotational motion measurement apparatus instrumented with a 360° goniometer. These experimental results were compared to data obtained from clinical and radiographic examination of 105 patients with similar residual deformities following treatment of fractures by nonsurgical means, to evaluate the accuracy of the experimental model and to determine if loss of rotational motion could be predicted based on radiographic findings. With cadaver forearms, on the average, angulation of 10° of the radius or ulna in coronal or sagittal planes limited pronation and supination by <24°, whereas angulation of 10° of both the radius and the ulna limited pronation and supination by <18%. Comparison of experimental results with clinical findings showed that, despite the errors involved in measuring forearm deformities in patients using biplanar radiographs, the experimental results predicted the clinical loss of pronation and supination to within 17% for the fractures of the radius, and within 8% accuracy for the fractures of the ulna.