[Wrist pain following radial head fracture caused by a tear in the interosseous membrane (Essex-Lopresti lesion)]

Abstract

A 44-year-old multiple injured patient presented with several fractures including a dislocated, comminuted radial head fracture after a 4 meter fall from a ladder. He was treated with radial head resection. However, at routine follow-up he indicated pain and loss of function of his wrist due to a distal radio-ulnar dislocation with a high position of the ulna, causing loss of pronation and supination. This is also known as the Essex-Lopresti lesion. Operative treatment included reduction and fixation of the distal radio-ulnar joint after resection osteotomy of the distal ulnar shaft according to Sauve and Kapandji.