In twenty-two patients with cerebral palsy and a pronation contracture
of the forearm, transfer of the pronator radii teres posteriorly to the
anterolateral border of the radius converted it from a pronator to a
supinator. Of the twenty-two patients so treated and followed for two to
six years, 82 per cent were judged to have a good to excellent result since
they had gained an average of 46 degrees of active supination compared with
their preoperative status. There was no loss of motion with the passage of
time and, determined by palpation, active contract of the transferred
pronator teres was evident during voluntary supination. The procedure
allowed the patients to improve function significantly by giving them the
ability to supinate the forearm during activities requiring axial rotation
of the forearm.