Case Reports in Orthopedics
Volume 2017 (2017), Article ID 3271026, 4 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3271026

Case Report

The Dorsoulnar Artery Perforator Adipofascial Flap in the Treatment of Distal Radioulnar Synostosis

Alessia Pagnotta,¹ Giorgio Antonietti,² and Iakov Molayem¹

¹Hand and Microsurgery Unit, Jewish Hospital, Rome, Italy
²Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Padre Pio Hospital, Bracciano and San Paolo Hospital, Civitavecchia, Italy

Correspondence should be addressed to Giorgio Antonietti; antonietti.giorgio@gmail.com

Received 21 February 2017; Accepted 21 June 2017; Published 24 July 2017

Academic Editor: Johannes Mayr

Copyright © 2017 Alessia Pagnotta et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Posttraumatic radioulnar synostosis (RUS) is a rare event following forearm fractures. Consequences are disabling for patients who suffer from functional limitation in forearm pronosupination. Distal RUS are even more rare and more difficult to treat because of high recurrence rates. The patient we describe in this paper came to our attention with a double distal RUS recurrence and a Darrach procedure already performed. We performed a radical excision of RUS and interposition with a vascularized dorsoulnar artery (DUA) adipofascial perforator flap. Four years after surgery, the patient shows the same complete range of motion in pronosupination, and MRI confirms that the flap is still in place with signs of vascularization. Simple synostosis excision has been proven ineffective in many cases. Interposition is recommended after excision, and biological material interposition seems to be more effective than foreign material. Surgeons are increasingly performing vascularized interposition, and the results are very encouraging.

1. Introduction

Radioulnar synostosis (RUS) in adults is a rare event, usually posttraumatic, resulting from forearm single or both bones fractures. It often leads to complete loss of forearm pronosupination, and the functional result is disabling for the patients, both in recreational activities and in everyday life.

This pathology has been classified by Vince and Miller [1] dividing it into 3 types depending on the location: type I is in the distal radioulnar area, type II in the middle nonarticular area, and type III in the proximal area. Jupiter and Ring [2] modified this classification by subclassifying type III synostosis into types A, B, and C. Type IIIA synostosis involves the bicipital tuberosity, type IIIB synostosis lies at the radial head and the proximal radioulnar joint, and type IIIC is associated with complete ankylosis of the elbow with widespread heterotopic bone. Hastings II and Graham [3] modified the classification adding 3 areas of interest and suggesting possible treatment procedures depending on the location.

There is wide consensus on the need of surgical treatment in order to restore range motion and function. Initially, procedures were focusing on synostosis excision alone [1, 4] or associated with nonvascularized biological [3, 5, 6] or artificial material interposition [1, 7]. High recurrence rates and poor results in studies with large series of patients [1, 2, 4] pushed surgeons to look for different solutions to achieve better outcomes.

Sugimoto et al. [8] and others [9–12] began to advocate the need for vascularized interposition, either pedicled muscle or adipofascial flaps, that could last through time and not cause adverse internal reactions. Distal RUS is even more rare and disabling for patients, being associated with even poorer results [1].

We describe a case that can be classified as a type I according to Vince and Miller [1] and area 5 according to Hastings II and Graham [3], with a history of double recurrence and a Darrach procedure [13] already performed, treated by synostosis resection and interposition with an adipofascial dorsoulnar artery (DUA) perforator flap.

2. Case Report

A 76-year-old woman suffered from an accidental fall, sustaining a distal forearm (both radius and ulna) and scaphoid fracture. Surgery was performed 10 days after initial trauma with scaphoid, radius, and ulna osteosynthesis. No specific NSAID were given to the patient. Assisted wrist and elbow exercises began 60 days postoperatively. She immediately noticed a complete loss of pronosupination and X-rays revealed distal RUS. Six months later, she underwent synostosis excision and Darrach procedure [13], with ulnar implants removal. Intraoperative pronosupination was complete. Rehabilitation began 1 week after surgery, but soon after she developed progressive loss of pronosupination, and 1-year postoperative X-rays revealed a recurrent synostosis (Figure 1). The patient came to our attention for the first time 1 year after the second surgery. She reported strong limitations in daily activities; she was feeling demoralized and had given up the idea of performing some of her hobbies (cooking and gardening). X-rays revealed a type I radioulnar synostosis [1]. Despite her age, the patient was completely independent, very active in everyday life, and determined to regain full forearm function.

Figure 1

We planned a vascularized DUA perforator adipofascial flap following synostosis excision after checking the presence of the perforator vessel with Doppler ultrasound. An ulnar approach was used, and fascia was exposed with a subdermal dissection. The adipofascial flap was incised, released from both radial and ulnar side, and gently retracted from the underlying flexor carpi radialis muscle. We identified the DUA perforating vessel that was visible on the flap’s distal third (Figure 2). The interosseous membrane and the synostosis were then exposed and excised (Figure 3), and the flap was turned into the distal radioulnar space (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)). Intraoperative pronosupination was complete. Active and passive range of motion exercises were started 3 days postoperatively and continued for several months. No splints, NSAID, or radiotherapy was used. Four years after surgery, the patient still shows complete pronation (90°) and supination (90°) and no synostosis recurrence (Figure 5). MRI performed 1 year after surgery confirms that the flap is still located in the interosseous space showing signs of a vascularized tissue (Figure 6).

Figure 2

Figure 3

(a)

(b)

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

3. Discussion

Radioulnar synostosis can be congenital, posttraumatic, iatrogenic, or idiopathic. Incidence of posttraumatic synostosis ranges from 1.2% to 6.6% of patients suffering from forearm fractures, but it is much higher in patients with associated brain lesions.

Our patient was affected by type I according to Vince and Miller [1] and an area 5 according to Hastings II and Graham [3] RUS with a history of double recurrence and a Darrach procedure already performed [13].

Hastings II and Graham [3] suggest performing a Sauvè-Kapanji procedure [14] for synostosis in this area, but since the patient had already undergone a Darrach [13], this would not allow us to carry out a proper procedure. Furthermore, this surgery has an inner risk of ossification of the pseudoarthrosis site [15]. Most articles in literatures report cases of proximal RUS. Even in the 3 major case series [1–3], only 4 cases of distal RUS are reported. They were all treated with excision, in 3 patients associated with a Darrach procedure [13] and in 1 with interposition of silicone rubber. In 3 occasions, recurrences were reported (75%). In Friedrich’s [5] case series (13 pz), 2 distal RUS were reported. Patients were treated with synostosis resection and fascia lata interposition, autograft in the first 3 patients, and allograft in the next 10 patients to reduce the risk of donor site morbidity. No recurrence was seen. Sonderegger et al. [10] reported 6 patients (1 distal RUS) treated with pedicled adipofascial flaps (4 based on the radial artery and 2 on the posterior interosseous artery) with no synostosis recurrence. Distal RUS is more rare and occurs after distal radioulnar fractures; it is more difficult to treat [1], and it appears that patients treated with excision and no biological interposition show poorer results, although few cases are described.

Surgeons’ RUS treatment choice is moving toward the use of biological material interposition. An experimental study on dogs showed conclusively the superiority of vascularized grafts over nonvascularized grafts or other foreign materials in preventing scar formation [16]. Radioulnar synostosis cases treated with vascularized adipofascial flaps are described and, although the total case series is low, results are satisfying in all patients [8–11].

We performed a vascularized adipofascial flap interposition, which we believe to be the most reliable treatment, considering the particular RUS location and the failures of previous surgeries. In particular, we decided to harvest and interpose the DUA perforator flap because it has significant advantages compared to other possible flaps, including a single skin incision, a constant vessel, and no risk of sacrificing the forearm vascularization as the flap is based on a perforating terminal branch. Finally, it is a local flap that does not need a microsurgical anastomosis but needs microsurgical experience.

Postoperative radiation therapy following resection has been described with positive results [17], but we decided not to irradiate our patient for the risk of flap damage.

RUS is a rare but highly disabling condition for patients. Treatment should be effective and prevent risk of recurrence. We believe that vascularized interposition should be routinely used and, in particular, that the DUA adipofascial perforator flap is a valuable treatment option for distal RUS.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

References

K. G. Vince and J. E. Miller, “Cross-union complicating fracture of the forearm. Part I: Adults,” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - Series A, vol. 69, no. 5, pp. 640–653, 1987.

J. B. Jupiter and D. Ring, “Operative treatment of post-traumatic proximal radioulnar synostosis,” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - Series A, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 248–257, 1998.

H. Hastings II and T. J. Graham, “The classification and treatment of heterotopic ossification about the elbow and forearm,” Hand Clinics, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 417–437, 1994.

J. M. Failla, P. C. Amadio, and B. F. Morrey, “Post-traumatic proximal radio-ulnar synostosis. Results of surgical treatment,” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - Series A, vol. 71, no. 8, pp. 1208–1213, 1989.

S. Pfanner, P. Bigazzi, C. Casini, C. De Angelis, and M. Ceruso, “Surgical treatment of posttraumatic radioulnar synostosis,” Case Reports in Orthopedics, vol. 2016, pp. 1–4, 2016.

J. B. Friedrich, D. P. Hanel, H. Chilcote, and L. I. Katolik, “Use of tensor fascia lata interposition grafts for the treatment of posttraumatic radioulnar synostosis,” Journal of Hand Surgery, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 785–793, 2006.

F. Z. Maempel, “Post-traumatic radioulnar synostosi. a report of two cases,” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, vol. 186, pp. 182–185, 1984.

M. Sugimoto, K. Masada, H. Ohno, and T. Hosoya, “Treatment of traumatic radioulnar synostosis by excision, with interposition of a posterior interosseous island forearm flap,” Journal of Hand Surgery, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 393–395, 1996.

N. F. Jones, A. Esmail, and E. K. Shin, “Treatment of radioulnar synostosis by radical excision and interposition of a radial forearm adipofascial flap,” Journal of Hand Surgery, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 1143–1147, 2004.

J. Sonderegger, S. Gidwani, and M. Ross, “Preventing recurrence of radioulnar synostosis with pedicled adipofascial flaps,” The Journal of Hand Surgery: European Volume, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 244–250, 2012.

S. N. Bell and D. Benger, “Management of radioulnar synostosis with mobilization, anconeus interposition, and a forearm rotation assist splint,” Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 621–624, 1999.

D. L. Fernandez and E. Joneschild, “"Wrap around" pedicled muscle flaps for the treatment of recurrent forearm synostosis,” Techniques in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 102–109, 2004.

D. J. Tulipan, R. G. Eaton, and R. E. Eberhart, “The Darrach procedure defended: Technique redefined and long-term follow-up,” Journal of Hand Surgery, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 438–444, 1991.

L. Gordon, D. G. Levinsohn, S. V. Moore, R. J. Dodds, and L. D. Castleman, “The Sauve-Kapandji procedure for the treatment of posttraumatic distal radioulnar joint problems,” Hand Clinics, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 397–403, 1991.

W. Daecke, A.-K. Martini, S. Schneider, and N. A. Streich, “Amount of ulnar resection is a predictive factor for ulnar instability problems after the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure: a retrospective study of 44 patients followed for 1–13 years,” Acta Orthopaedica, vol. 77, no. 2, pp. 290–297, 2006.

G. G. Gill, L. Sakovich, and E. Thompson, “Pedicle fat grafts for the prevention of scar formation after laminectomy: an experimental study in dogs,” Spine, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 176–186, 1979.

J. P. Cullen, V. D. Pellegrini Jr., R. J. Miller, and J. A. Jones, “Treatment of traumatic radioulnar synostosis by excision and postoperative low-dose irradiation,” Journal of Hand Surgery, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 394–401, 1994.