Abstract
Plaster cast immobilization treatment of isolated ulnar fractures is thought by many to be associated with a high incidence of nonunion (Grace and Witmer 1980; Brakenbury et al. 1981). Watsonjones (1934), while claiming to be in favor of nonsurgical treatment of fractures in general, stated that ulnar fractures were best treated by means of plate fixation as he believed that the above-the-elbow cast did not sufficiently immobilize the fracture fragments. Others have attempted to explain the alleged high nonunion rate on the grounds that its superficial placement under the skin deprives the injured bone of sufficient blood supply. Others suspect that its predominantly cortical composition predisposes to pseudoarthrosis or that the intact radius keeps the ulnar fragments distracted. For these and perhaps others reasons, internal plate osteosynthesis of isolated ulnar fractures is currently a widely and popularly accepted method of treatment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Brakenbury PH, Corea JR, Blakemore ME (1981) Nonunion of isolated fracture of the ulnar shaft in adults. Injury 12: 371
Gefuhr P, Holmich P, Orsnes T, Soelberg M, Drasheninnikoff M, Kjersgaard AG (1992) Isolated ulnar shaft fractures: comparison of treatment by a functional brace and long-arm cast. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 74B: 757
Grace TG, Witmer BJ (1980) Isolated fractures of the ulnar shaft. Orthop Trans 4: 299
Hack B, Brys D, Tarr RR, Sarmiento A (1988) The effects of angular deformities of the radius and ulna on prono-supination of the forearm. Proceedings of the 53rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, p 161
Hackstock H, Helmreich M (1989) Isolierte Brüche des Ellenschaftes - Behandlung mit Sarmiento Brace. Verbandtechnik 2: 6
Hidaka S, Gustillo RB (1984) Refracture of bones of the forearm after plate removal. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 66A: 1241
McKeever PC, Sarmiento A (1987) Isolated ulna fractures treated in a functional sleeve. Proceedings of the 54th annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, p 107
Overlander MA, Seidman.D, Whitelaw GP (1993) Treatment of isolated ulnar shaft fractures with functional bracing. Orthopedics 1629
Pollock FH, Pankovich AM, Prieto JJ, Lorenz M (1983) The isolated fracture of the ulnar shaft — treatment without immobilization. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 65A: 339
Sarmiento A, Latta LL (1981) Closed functional treatment of fractures. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Sarmiento A, Cooper JS, Sinclair WF (1975) Forearm fractures. early functional bracing — a preliminary report. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 57A: 297
Sarmiento A, Kinman PB, Murphy RB, Phillips JG (1976) Treatment of ulnar fractures by functional bracing. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 58A: 1104
Sarmiento A, Ebranzadeh E, Brys D, Tarr R (1992) Angular deformities and forearm function. J Orthop Res 10: 12 1133
Sung HW (1988) The Chinese traditional method for the treatment of forearm fractures. J Orthop Trauma 2: 43
Tarr RR, Garfinkle A, Sarmiento A (1984) Effects of angular and rotational deformities of both bones of the forearm. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 66: 65
Watson-Jones R (1934) Inadequate immobilization and nonunion of fractures. Br Med J 936
Zych GA, Zagorski JB, Latta LL (1987) Treatment of isolated ulnar fractures with prefabricated fracture braces. Clin Orthop 219: 1944
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sarmiento, A., Latta, L.L. (1995). Isolated Ulnar Fractures. In: Functional Fracture Bracing. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03093-6_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03093-6_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-03095-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03093-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive