Post-traumatic distal radioulnar synostosis in a child: a rare case report and literature review

TL;DR

A child developed a rare forearm condition after a traffic accident, and successful treatment involved surgery to restore movement.

Contribution

Presents a rare pediatric case of post-traumatic distal radioulnar synostosis and its successful surgical management.

Findings

A 7-year-old boy developed radioulnar synostosis after a high-energy accident and required two surgeries for recovery.

Revision surgery with bony bridge resection and interposition restored full forearm rotation and prevented recurrence.

Early surgical intervention is emphasized for optimal outcomes in pediatric synostosis cases.

Abstract

Radioulnar synostosis is a rare but severe complication of pediatric forearm trauma that results in the loss of forearm rotation and functional impairment. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy who developed post-traumatic distal radioulnar synostosis following a high-energy road traffic accident. Initial management involved open reduction and internal fixation of both forearm bones. One year later, due to loss of pronation-supination, the child underwent revision surgery with bony bridge resection and interposition. Sixteen months after the second surgery, the outcome was excellent with full restoration of forearm rotation and no recurrence. This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in pediatric synostosis and supports the role of early surgical resection with interposition for optimal results.

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