Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777019
Ulnar Head Fracture with Volar Dislocation of the Distal Radioulnar Joint: A Case Series and Systematic Review

Abstract
Dislocations of the distal radioulnar joint associated with a fracture of the distal ulna articular surface without an associated radial fracture are extremely rare.
We present a case of a fracture of the distal ulna with an associated dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint, where the articular head fragment was displaced anterior to the sigmoid notch.
We also present the results of a formal systematic review of these injuries which confirmed this is the first such injury described, although there is a very similar fracture pattern described in the literature with dorsal dislocation.
We describe the mechanism of injury and hypothesize about the etiology of the fracture pattern and suggest that it represents the end of a spectrum that also includes the isolated dislocations and those associated with an ulna styloid fracture.
Publication History
Received: 28 August 2023
Accepted: 20 October 2023
Article published online:
22 November 2023
© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
-
References
- 1 O’Malley O, Brown OC, Duncan L, Cheung G, Stevenson HL, Brown DJ. Isolated volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint: a case series and systematic review. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2022
- 2 Bruckner JD, Alexander AH, Lichtman DM. Acute dislocations of the distal radio - Ulnar joint. J Bone Jt Surg 1995; 77 (06) 958-968
- 3 Tamura Y, Inoue G. Dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint associated with an intraarticular fracture of the ulnar head: report of two cases. J Orthop Trauma 1998; 12 (01) 68-70
- 4 Ayari R, Fendri O, Bouaziz A, Amine C, Kacem MS, Khalil A. Closed reduction of volar distal radio-ulnar joint dislocation. Arch Trauma Res 2021; 10 (03) 176-179
- 5 Ciminero M, Yohe N, Garofolo-Gonzalez G, Choueka J. Isolated distal ulna fracture with distal radioulnar joint dislocation: a novel fracture pattern. Hand (N Y) 2020; 15 (04) NP57-NP62
- 6 Li Y, Yan H. Isolated irreducible chronic volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint: a case report. JBJS Case Connect 2014; 4 (04) e119
- 7 Paley D, Rubenstein J, McMurtry RY. Irreducible dislocation of distal radial ulnar joint. Orthop Rev 1986; 15 (04) 228-231
- 8 Garrigues GE, Aldridge III JM. Acute irreducible distal radioulnar joint dislocation. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2007; 89 (07) 1594-1597
- 9 Slattery D, Gohil S, Hogan G. A case report and the literature review: volar dislocation of the DRUJ and stabilisation using mini-suture anchors. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2013; 23 (Suppl. 02) S203-S205