Ulnar nerve palsy following closed fracture of the distal radius: a report of 2 cases.
Ulnar nerve palsy subsequent to a fracture of the distal radius is extremely rare compared to a median nerve injury. The lesion tends to occur in younger patents with a high-energy mechanism of injury and a severe injury pattern consisting of wide displacement, comminution, combined distal ulnar fracture and open fracture. The mechanism of injury can contribute to a direct contusion and traction, compression secondary to prolonged edema and tissue fibrosis, intraneural fibrosis and laceration. We report 2 cases of progressive ulnar nerve palsy subsequent to closed fractures of the distal radius. The neurological symptoms recovered in all cases who underwent nerve decompression and neurolysis at 2 or 3 months after the trauma. It is recommended that cases with high-energy, widely displaced or comminuted fractures of the distal radius be evaluated carefully for ulnar nerve as well as median nerve injury.
Cho
Chul-Hyun
CH
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Kang
Chul-Hyung
CH
Jung
Jae-Hoon
JH
D000328:Adult; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D020424:Ulnar Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult