Surgical treatment of non-unions in the ulna and radius: a one-year outcome study
The incidence of non-unions of the forearm following conservative or surgical treatment of forearm fractures ranges from 2% to 5.3%. These non-unions can lead to significant limitations in the patient’s physical capabilities, necessitating an appropriate treatment plan. The aim of this study was to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
25 November 2025
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| In: |
European journal of trauma and emergency surgery
Year: 2025, Volume: 51, Pages: 1-9 |
| ISSN: | 1863-9941 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00068-025-03024-0 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-025-03024-0
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| Author Notes: | Sebastian Findeisen, Katinka Maier, Thomas Ferbert, Michael Tanner, Tobias Grossner, Tim Niklas Bewersdorf, Christian Schamberger, Gerhard Schmidmaier, Jessica Carina Böpple |
| Summary: | The incidence of non-unions of the forearm following conservative or surgical treatment of forearm fractures ranges from 2% to 5.3%. These non-unions can lead to significant limitations in the patient’s physical capabilities, necessitating an appropriate treatment plan. The aim of this study was to evaluate osseous consolidation of forearm non-unions after six months and one year as well as to assess patient-reported outcomes. A total of 36 patients with non-unions of the forearm, operatively treated in our department between 01/10 and 12/21, completed the follow-up period for this study. Radiographic evaluation was performed using the modified Lane-Sandhu Score. Osseous consolidation was assessed at six and 12 months postoperatively. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes and variations of surgical treatment were analysed. The prevalence of non-unions in our study was 30.56% for the ulna, 50% for the radius, and 19.44% for both bones. 85% of patients received bone grafts, with 48% receiving cortico-cancellous bone grafts (CCBG) and 52% receiving cancellous bone from the iliac crest or femur. In total, 67% of patients demonstrated consolidation of the non-union within six months of surgical treatment, increasing to 89% after one year. Among patients who received CCBG, 86% showed consolidation at six months, rising to 100% at one year. Additionally, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including VAS and SF-12 scores, showed overall improvement. A sufficiently long follow-up period is crucial for patients with forearm non-unions. To ensure consolidation, a follow-up period of at least six months to one year is recommended. Furthermore, the use of cortico-cancellous bone grafting combined with locking compression plates (LCP) appears to be an effective technique, providing stability during the healing process and achieving satisfactory bone healing one year postoperatively. |
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| Item Description: | Online veröffentlicht: 25. November 2025 Gesehen am 23.01.2026 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1863-9941 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00068-025-03024-0 |