by AceMedEd

Teach card · keep it in your scrub pocket

Both-bone forearm fracture

Ask during the case

  1. During the radius exposure: "Which interval are we in, which nerve supplies the muscle on each side, and where is the PIN right now?"
  2. Before the radius plate goes on: "Where is this radius's maximum bow, and what happens to pronation and supination if we plate it straight?"
  3. At the final fluoroscopy: "Show me the radiocapitellar line and the DRUJ on the AP and the lateral. Which injury did each one just rule out?"

Point at: the radial head against the capitellum on the final fluoroscopy, on the AP and then the lateral, while they draw the radiocapitellar line in the air.

End of day: "Draw me the mid-forearm slice with the three approaches, then an AP and a lateral of the forearm with the radiocapitellar line, the DRUJ and the radial bow." Two minutes, no notes.

Where this kit and your technique differ, yours wins.

Send this to your students

The night before. They prep alone, redraw at turnover, and get a cold check tomorrow morning. They won't see these questions.

Open the student page

Reviewed by Mehdi “AC” Talle, D.O., November 2026. Sources: Netter, Gray's Anatomy and Hoppenfeld's surgical exposures, with Rockwood and Green for fractures. Teaching schematic, not to scale; anatomy and technique vary. Management and indications are left to you on purpose.