During a period of forty-two years, twenty patients who had a
post-traumatic proximal radio-ulnar synostosis were treated by excision of
the area of synostosis and various concurrent procedures in an attempt to
restore rotation of the forearm. The time from injury to operation averaged
eighteen months, and the postoperative follow-up averaged forty months.
Results were graded on the basis of improvement in the arc of rotation of
the forearm. After excision of the area of synostosis in the fifteen
patients for whom data were available, the intraoperative arc of passive
rotation averaged 121 degrees. At the most recent follow-up, the range of
active rotation averaged 55 degrees for all twenty patients. Four patients
had an excellent result; three, good; four, fair; and nine, poor. The
outcome of this type of surgical treatment varies, but roughly half of the
patients can be benefited.