Biomechanical aspect of traumatic bowing of the forearm in children. Clinical and radiographic findings also clarified

Traumatic bowing of the radius and ulna in children following trauma is a well known clinical and radiologic entity. We feel that the problem is underdiagnosed and more attention should be paid to the biomechanical behavior of curved tubular bones in the plastic region. Plastic deformation is equated with microfractures which are not evident clinically and which should be reduced as though they were greenstick fractures. The absence of typical radiologic and clinical findings which accompany fractures has contributed to the lack of recognition of this entity. The forearm is a common site of injury in childhood. While fractures are well recognized and frequently diagnosed, deformity without obvious fracture lines is easily missed. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the biomechanical aspect of the problem as well as the etiology, mechanism of injury, clinical, and radiographic findings together with the orthopaedic implications. One illustrative clinical case is presented.