A retrospective study was done of eighty-seven patients who had 129
diaphyseal fractures of either the radius or the ulna, or both, and who
were treated with fixation using an AO dynamic-compression plate. Open
fractures were internally fixed primarily, and both comminuted and open
fractures routinely had bone-grafting. Ninety-eight per cent of the
fractures united, and 92 per cent of the patients achieved an excellent or
satisfactory functional result. The rate of infection was 2.3 per cent.
Refracture occurred after removal of a 4.5-millimeter dynamic-compression
plate in two patients, but there were no refractures after removal of a
3.5-millimeter plate. The 3.5-millimeter-plate system gave excellent
results in patients who had a fracture of the forearm, and it minimized the
risk of refracture. Our results demonstrated that immediate plate fixation
of an open fracture of the forearm, with a low rate of complications, is
possible.