Nerve Palsy as a Complicating Fractures of Forearm.

Nerve palsy as a complication of feacture of forearm is uncommon.From July, 1985 through April, 1975 fractures of forearm have been treated at our hospiatal. 17 of these feactures had associated nerve palsy, and 4 of those cases required neurolysis.Case 1 was a 21-year-old man who had Barton fracture and hypesthesia in the area of distribution of the median and ulnar nerves. He was referred for trestment at our hospital. The ulnar nerve function had recovered. But, the symptom of the median nerve was unchanged. Three months after the injury, neurolysis of the median nerve was performed. Two months after operation, the median nerve was impoved.Case 2 was a 39-year-old man who had distal radial fracture and hypesthesia in the area of distribution of the ulnar nerve. He was referred for treatment at our hospital.Two months after the injury, neurolysis of the ulnar nerves was performed. Two months after the operation the ulnar nerve fuction was recovered.Case 3 was a 45-year-old man who had open fracture of the distal radius and ulna, and had paresthesia in the area of the distribution of the median and ulnar nerves. He was referred for treatment at our hospital. Four months aftre the injury, osteosynthesis and neurolysis of the median and ulnar nerves were performed. Six months after the operation, the median and ulnar nerve functions were recovered.Case 4 was a 57-year-old woman who had fracture of the distal radius and ulna, and had paresthesia in the area of the distribution of the median and ulnar nerves. She was referred for treatment because of complication at our hospital. Six months after the injury, neurolysis of the median and ulnar nerves was performed. Altough the median nerve function returned gradually, the ulnar nerve had not returned. Eight months after first surgery, neurolysis and resection of the ulnar head were performed. Six months later the ulnar nerve function had returned.