Forearm pseudarthrosis--neurofibromatosis: case report.

A 3 1/2-year-old white girl with neurofibromatosis sustained left radius and ulna fractures. The radius was sclerotic with no medullary canal at the fracture site, and the ulna was hypoplastic distal to the fracture. The fractures failed to unite when immobilized in a long arm plaster cast for 5 months and pseudarthrosis developed. Three subsequent operative attempts to obtain union of the pseudarthrosis by means of internal fixation and bone grafting over the next 30 months were also unsuccessful, and the pseudarthrosis persisted. The forearm was supported in a custom molded leather brace until the child was 13 1/2 years old and had reached skeletal maturity. Osseous union was then operatively obtained using dual onlay tibial cortical and cancellous bone grafts. There has been no recurrence of the pseudarthrosis 3 years and 2 months after bone grafting. The author recommends postponing surgical attempts to achieve union of the forearm bone pseudarthrosis associated with neurofibromatosis until the patient reaches skeletal maturity.