Volar Dislocation of Distal Radioulnar Joint: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

We report two cases of isolated volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. Case1 was a 44-year-old male who injured his wrist when he tried to support a man who fell on his own left hand. He felt pain immediately and was unable to extend the forearm. X-ray with CT revealed volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. Fifteen days after the injury, closed reduction was performed under general anesthesia. After reduction, the arm was immobilized in pronation below the elbow cast for a period of six weeks. Case2 was a 29-year-old male who sprained his right wrist while refereeing a football game. He felt pain immediately and was unable to extend the forearm. X-ray with CT revealed volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. Three days after the injury, closed reduction was performed under general anesthesia. After reduction, the arm was immobilized in pronation below the elbow cast for a period of four weeks. During the last follow-up, neither cases complained of pain, nor limitation of the wrist and forearm. It is important to diagnose the isolated volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint early to enable early closed reduction and cast.