Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
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Angular deformities were created in cadaver forearms at proximal, middle, and distal third levels of the radius and ulna separately, and at middle and distal third levels of both bones, to determine the corresponding limitations of pronation and supination. The ranges of pronation and supination were recorded using a rotational motion measurement apparatus instrumented with a 360 degrees goniometer. ⋯ With cadaver forearms, on the average, angulation of 10 degrees of the radius or ulna in coronal or sagittal planes limited pronation and supination by less than 24 degrees, whereas angulation of 10 degrees of both the radius and the ulna limited pronation and supination by less than 18%. Comparison of experimental results with clinical findings showed that, despite the errors involved in measuring forearm deformities in patients using biplanar radiographs, the experimental results predicted the clinical loss of pronation and supination to within 17% for the fractures of the radius, and within 8% accuracy for the fractures of the ulna.