[Error diagnosis and inappropriate treatment for Essex-Lopresti injury in 2 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the reason of error diagnosis and inappropriate treatment of radius head fractures complicating distal radioulnar joint dislocation (Essex-Lopresti injury) and to seek for the reasonable treatment.


METHODS
From 2008 to 2009, 2 male patients of radius head fractures complicating distal radioulnar joint dislocation were treated, the age was 56 and 66 years old respectively. The symptom included elbow swelling and limitation of forearm rotation. X-ray showed comminuted fractures of capitulum radius. There were 1 case of Mason type III and 1 cases of type IV. Two patients were treated by resection of capitulum radius and plaster fixation after operation.


RESULTS
Both of the 2 cases had limited rotation of forearm and the distal radioulnar joint pain. The X-ray showed that the distal radioulnar joint was separated obviously and the proximal radius was translocated.


CONCLUSIONS
The early diagnosis is very important for the Essex-Lopresti injury. Rebuilding the longth of the radius and reduction fixating the distal radioulnar joint after fixated is an effective treatment while the interosseous membranes can't be repaired and rebuilded.
Department of Orthopadics, Shangyu Hospital of TCM, Shangyu 312300, Zhejiang, China. chjil8168@sina.com
Jian-Liang
JL
Chen
Long-Jun
LJ
Zhang
Feng
F
Ye
Xiao-Dong
XD
Zheng
Yong
Y
Xu
D000368:Aged; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D000092464:Elbow Injuries