Galeazzi fracture-dislocation

Case contributed by Matt Skalski , 9 May 2015
Diagnosis certain
Changed by Tee Yu Jin, 9 Feb 2020

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

There is a comminuted fracture of the middle third of the radius, demonstrating approximately 20 degrees of  posterior posterior angulation with a butterfly fragment posteriorly at the fracture site. The ulnar head is dislocated anteriorly, with widening of the distal radio-ulnar joint. The scapholunate joint space is borderline widened.

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

The pathological changes seen in this fracture-dislocation injury pattern are outlined. See

DP:

  • The widened distal radioulnar joint is indicated by the descriptions below for individual views. blue line
  • The loss of the normal contour between the radius and ulna because of the dislocated ulnar head is indicated by the green line
  • The borderline widened scapholunate joint spaces are indicated by the yellow line (should be <3.5mm)

Lateral:

  • The anteriorly dislocated ulnar head is outlined in blue
  • The comminuted butterfly fragment is outlined in green
Images Changes:

Image Annotated image (DP) ( update )

Description was removed:
The widened distal radioulnar joint is indicated by the blue line. The loss of the normal contour between the radius and ulna because of the dislocated ulnar head is indicated by the green line. The borderline widened scapholunate joint spaces is indicated by the yellow line (should be <3.5mm)

Image Annotated image (Lateral) ( update )

Description was removed:
The anteriorly dislocated ulnar head is outlined in blue. The comminuted butterfly fragment is outlined in green.

Updates to Case Attributes

Body was changed:

It is critical to identify the dislocated ulnar head in this case, as it changes it from from a simple radius fracture to a GaleazziGaleazzi injury pattern, which greatly changes the patient management and outcomes as this is an unstable injury and the extent extent of injury to other structures is much greater. Anterior dislocation of of the ulna (as in this case) is less common than posterior dislocation. 

  • -<p>It is critical to identify the dislocated ulnar head in this case, as it changes it from a simple radius fracture to a Galeazzi injury pattern, which greatly changes the patient management and outcomes as this is an unstable injury and the extent of injury to other structures is much greater. Anterior dislocation of the ulna (as in this case) is less common than posterior dislocation. </p>
  • +<p>It is critical to identify the dislocated ulnar head in this case, as it changes it from a simple radius fracture to a <a title="Galeazzi injury" href="/articles/galeazzi-fracture-dislocation">Galeazzi injury</a> pattern, which greatly changes the patient management and outcomes as this is an unstable injury and the extent of injury to other structures is much greater. Anterior dislocation of the ulna (as in this case) is less common than posterior dislocation. </p>

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