Bilateral traumatic dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint, ulna dorsal: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Bilateral dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint seems not to have been reported in the literature. This is a report of a 22-year-old man successfully treated with closed reduction and immobilization in long arm casts. Limited forearm rotation and wrist pain after a twisting injury are typical findings. In ulna dorsal dislocation the patient's forearm is locked in pronation. In ulna volar dislocation the wrist appears narrow and the forearm is locked in supination. The mechanism of injury for dorsal dislocations is hyperpronation; for volar dislocations it is hypersupination. Dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint injures the triangular disk and/or fractures the ulnar styloid. Suspicion is important in making the diagnosis. Fifty per cent of unilateral cases reported in the literature were missed initially or were diagnosed late. The acute case is easily treated by closed reduction under local anesthesia and immobilization in a long arm cast. Treatment of the chronic dislocation includes various soft tissue reconstructions or resection of the distal ulna depending on the degree of arthrosis.