Treatment of a Bone Defect of the Forearm by Bone Transport

The technique of bone transport has been used in the lower extremities to treat acute and chronic bone defect. It has not been applied to the upper extremities. An 8.0-cm defect of the ulna was treated with this technique, using a unilateral bone transport system. At completion of the transport, bone graft was brought to the docking site. A 4.0-cm radius defect was treated with free fibula graft and intramedullary nailing. Treatment was completed with removal of the external fixator at 10 months. Complication was limited to transient superficial pin site infection.