Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

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VOLUME 8 , ISSUE 1 ( April, 2013 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

The sequelae of a missed Essex-Lopresti lesion

K. Thomason, K. J. Burkhart, K. Wegmann, L. P. Müller

Keywords : Essex-Lopresti, Radial head fracture, Radial head resection, Complication, One bone forearm

Citation Information : Thomason K, Burkhart KJ, Wegmann K, Müller LP. The sequelae of a missed Essex-Lopresti lesion. 2013; 8 (1):57-61.

DOI: 10.1007/s11751-013-0153-z

License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Published Online: 01-06-2017

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2013; The Author(s).


Abstract

Radial head fractures are the most common type of elbow fracture in adults. Unrecognised disruption of the intraosseous membrane at the time of injury can lead to severe wrist pain from proximal radial migration especially if the radial head is excised. In this case, despite anatomical reduction and internal fixation of the radial head fracture, longitudinal forearm instability developed after delayed radial head resection was performed 7 months post-injury. A Suave-Kapandji procedure was performed due to ongoing wrist pain. Because of the previous radial head resection, this led to a floating forearm that could only be solved by creating a one-bone forearm, sacrificing all forearm rotation to achieve a stable lever arm between the elbow and wrist joint.


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