Ulnar nerve palsy following fracture of the distal radius in an adolescent: a case report.
In adolescents, neurovascular injury, especially ulnar nerve injury, is rare with fracture of the distal radius. We present a 14-year-old boy who sustained fracture of the distal radius in his right wrist, who also had symptoms of ulnar nerve injury. Close reduction with percutaneous pinning and cast to fix the distal radius fracture was done immediately. Then, we decided to observe the recovery of the nerve injury without providing any emergent nerve exploration. Bone union was achieved after 8 weeks of fixation, and the function of the ulnar nerve was restored completely after 16 weeks of observation. The possibility of ulnar nerve injury should be considered following fracture of the distal aspect of the radius, and we recommend observing the recovery of nerve injury, with no need for emergent nerve exploration.
Lu
Cheng-Chang
CC
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chuo
Chin-Yi
CY
Chen
Shen-Kai
SK
Huang
Yu-Han
YH
Chou
Pei-Hsi
PH
D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology