J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2021 Oct;56(5):427-432. 10.4055/jkoa.2021.56.5.427.

Delayed Diagnosis of Volar Dislocation of the Distal Ulna after Treatment of the Radial Shaft Fracture

• Jeon SH
• Lee S

• KMID: 2521203
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2021.56.5.427

Abstract

Delayed treatment of volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint can result in wrist pain, limited rotation of the forearm, and degenerative arthritis that could be managed only by salvage procedures. A 24-year-old male patient presented with wrist pain and a loss of forearm rotation after surgery for a radial shaft fracture. The shaft of the radius was fixed with a plate and screws with a volar angulation of 7°. The ulnar head was dislocated volar to the distal radius, and the bone defect in the ulnar head was impacted into the volar rim of the sigmoid notch of the radius, preventing the head from being reduced in the joint. Corrective osteotomy of the malunited radial shaft and sliding osteotomy of the proximal ulnar head were performed to fill the distal bone defect. Pain and range of the forearm rotation were improved at postoperative 19 months.

Keyword

distal radioulnar joint; joint dislocation; ulnar head osteotomy