The rotational effect of pronation and supination osteotomies of the forearm in a cadaver model: a comparison of osteotomy sites on the radius and the ulna

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect on forearm rotation of rotation osteotomies at the distal and proximal levels of the radius and the ulna. Rotation osteotomies of 15 degrees and 30 degrees were made in the distal and proximal one-third of the radius and the ulna in ten cadaver specimens and changes of forearm arc of rotation were compared after osteotomy at the four sites. This study identifies the proximal ulna as the best of these sites for rotation osteotomy because of the high gain in the rotated direction and minimal loss in the opposite direction.