OBJECTIVE: To evaluate results obtained in the treatment of fracture-dislocation of the proximal end of the forearm (FLEPA), in an attempt at identifying factors that may influence the prognosis of this type of traumatic lesion. METHODS: From October 1994 to December 2005, 30 patients with FLEPA were submitted to surgical treatment. In all cases, minimum office follow-up lasted 12 months. The lesions were classified according to the method of Chick et al. Mean age was 48 years, with minimum age of 25, and maximum age of 76 years. Traumas were caused by: falling to the ground in 17 patients (57%), street accidents in 11 cases (37%), direct trauma in one case (3%), and bodily aggression in one case (3%). Open fractures were seen in eight cases (27%). Statistical analysis was run by the exact Fisher test to evaluate the following data: exposure of the fracture focus and results; gender and results; mechanism of the trauma and results; age and mechanism of trauma; gender and trauma mechanism. RESULTS: In 11 cases (37%), results were satisfactory, and in 19 cases (63%) results were unsatisfactory. They only established the significant statistical ratio between fracture exposure and results. CONCLUSION: Most FLEPA treatments have unsatisfactory results, particularly in cases of open fractures. Other prognosis factures could not be defined. The authors identified a trend towards better results in female patients, among the elderly, and in the victims of low energy traumas.
Forearm injuries; Treatment outcome; Retrospective studies; Adult
