title: Immobilization in supination versus neutral following surgical treatment of Galeazzi fracture-dislocations in adults: case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to investigate whether immobilization in supination is necessary to prevent recurrent distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability in patients older than 18 years with a Galeazzi fracture-dislocation and a stable DRUJ following open reduction and internal fixation of the radius.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective chart review of 10 consecutive patients who were immobilized in either supination or a neutral position following surgical treatment of a Galeazzi fracture-dislocation in which the DRUJ was noted to be stable immediately after fixation of the radius. Group 1 consisted of 5 patients who were immobilized in supination for a period of 4 weeks, and group 2 consisted of 5 patients who were immobilized in neutral for 2 weeks, followed by functional bracing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed up for an average of 68 months (range, 26-124 mo) after surgery. No significant difference was noted between the 2 groups with respect to age, medical comorbidities (no noteworthy medical comorbidities in either group), or hand dominance. None of the patients in either group demonstrated DRUJ instability during the follow-up period or required any additional surgery. At the latest follow-up, patients in the 2 groups had comparable forearm motion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study suggest that following open reduction and internal fixation of the radius in patients with Galeazzi fracture-dislocations and with stable DRUJs, immobilization in supination for 4 weeks does not have an advantage over immobilization in neutral for a shorter period.
authors.affiliation: Hand Surgery Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bozentka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery*; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013484:Supination; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult