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Essex-Lopresti fracture-dislocation

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Motorbike accident.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Male

Intra-articular radial head fracture with a large joint effusion (sail sign), with dorsal dislocation of the ulna at the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ).

Diagram

Collated image of key findings. 

Case Discussion

Essex-Lopresti fracture-dislocation is the combination of:

  • radial head fracture
  • dislocation or subluxation of the distal radial ulnar joint (with rupture of the forearm interosseous ligament)

It is analogous to the Maisonneuve fracture of the leg.  

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