Question 1

What is a both-bone forearm fracture?

Accepted Answer

A both-bone forearm fracture means BOTH the radius and ulna (the two bones in your forearm between elbow and wrist) are broken. This is different from a single bone fracture (like an isolated ulna or radius fracture). Both bones working together allow you to rotate your forearm (turn palm up and down - pronation and supination). When both bones break, this rotation is lost until healed. It's one of the most common fractures in children (usually from falling on playground or during sports) and occurs in adults from higher-energy trauma like motor vehicle accidents. Treatment depends on age - children can often be treated with casting, adults almost always need surgery with plates and screws.

Question 2

Why do adults need surgery but children can be treated with a cast?

Accepted Answer

Growing children's bones have amazing remodeling capacity - residual angulation or slight malalignment will correct itself as the bone grows and remodels over 1-2 years. Children under age 10 can accept 10-15 degrees of residual bend that will fully remodel. Adults have NO remodeling capacity - whatever position the bones heal in is permanent. Even small rotational malalignment in adults causes major loss of pronation/supination (turning palm up/down) and functional disability. Surgery with plates allows perfect anatomic alignment in adults. The cut-off age varies: under 10 often casting, over 12-13 almost always surgery, ages 10-12 case-by-case depending on fracture pattern and alignment.

Question 3

What is compartment syndrome and why is it dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Compartment syndrome is a SURGICAL EMERGENCY where swelling inside the muscle compartments of the forearm increases pressure so high it cuts off blood supply to muscles and nerves. Forearm has multiple fascial compartments that don't stretch - if swelling occurs (from fracture bleeding, trauma, or too-tight cast), pressure builds until circulation stops. Signs: severe pain out of proportion (not controlled by pain medications), pain with passive finger stretching, tight swollen forearm, numbness/tingling in hand. If not treated urgently (within 6-8 hours) with emergency surgery (fasciotomy - cutting fascia to release pressure), permanent muscle and nerve damage occurs - hand becomes clawed and useless. Compartment syndrome risk is WHY you must check fingers regularly after forearm fracture.

Question 4

How long does a both-bone forearm fracture take to heal?

Accepted Answer

Bone healing timeline: 6-8 weeks for early healing (bones 'sticky' but not solid), 10-12 weeks for solid bony union. CHILDREN in cast: long-arm cast 4-6 weeks, then short-arm cast 4-6 weeks more. Total cast time 8-12 weeks. Once cast removed, another 4-8 weeks to regain full motion and strength. ADULTS after surgery: splint 2 weeks, then progressive motion. Bones solid at 10-12 weeks on X-rays. Return to normal activities 3 months, contact sports 4-6 months. Important: 'healed on X-ray' doesn't mean 'back to full strength' - that takes another 2-3 months of strengthening.

Question 5

Will my child's arm be straight after it heals, or will it be crooked?

Accepted Answer

Depends on age and initial alignment. Children UNDER 10: some residual angulation (bend) acceptable - will remodel and straighten as child grows over 1-2 years. Surgeons accept 10-15 degrees angulation in young children knowing it will remodel. Children OVER 12: need near-perfect alignment (like adults) as remodeling potential much less. After surgery with plates: arm should be perfectly straight - anatomic alignment achieved. With casting: expect some residual deformity that remodels (young children) or may be permanent (older children/adolescents). If unacceptable alignment persists after casting, surgery can be done even weeks later to correct it.

Medical Disclaimer

Broken Forearm (Both Bones)

📖What is Broken Forearm (Both Bones)?

🔬What Causes It?

⚠️Risk Factors

You may be at higher risk if:

🛡️Prevention