Surgical approaches to forearm and wrist

Knowledge of the surgical approaches to the forearm is essential for orthopaedic trauma surgery and therefore it is also an essential examination preparation. It is noted that the trend of subspecialization in trauma and orthopaedic surgery has reduced the exposure of many trainees and working surgeons to the forearm region. This article provides a concise review of the most commonly used approaches to the forearm and wrist. These include both the volar and dorsal approaches to the elbow and exposure of the full length of the radius and ulna.