Comminuted intra-articular distal radius fracture

Case contributed by Dom LeGros
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Fall from approx 1.5m onto left out-stretched hand. Complaining of pain and deformity to left wrist.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Male

Displaced, comminuted fracture of the right distal radius with associated fracture of ulnar styloid.

Case Discussion

The patient fell from the back of an articulated lorry onto his outstretched right hand. Circulation was intact however there was evidence of ulnar and median nerve compression.

Initial reduction was performed in the emergency department under hematoma block. This relieved the ulnar nerve compression and improved the median nerve.

He was then referred on for definitive fixation.

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