Background
Congenital radioulnar synostosis is a rare condition. It is the result of failure of segmentation between the radius and ulna. It may be isolated or associated with other abnormalities
Patients and methods
This series included five patients with congenital radioulnar synostosis. There were three female and two male patients. The mean age at surgery was 10 years (range 5–22 years). All patients were unilateral. The right forearm was involved in four patients and the left in one patient. One patient had associated ipsilateral symbrachydactyly. The indication for surgery was limitation in performing the activities of daily life regardless of the degree of pronation deformity. They were treated by transverse rotational osteotomy through the synostosis in four cases. In the fifth case, the osteotomy was performed at the diaphysis of the radius because the synostosis was so proximal and short. The osteotomy was fixed by small set dynamic compression plate (DCP) plate in all cases.
Results
The mean time of union of osteotomy was 7 weeks (range 5–12 weeks). The functional results after surgery were satisfactory in all patients.
Conclusion
Rotational osteotomy is a good option to treat the congenital radioulnar synostosis. The preferred position is the neutral as the compensatory movement of the shoulder and wrist will allow proper positioning of the forearm.