Isolated Irreducible Chronic Volar Dislocation of the Distal Radioulnar Joint: A Case Report

We report a case of a fifty-eight-year-old woman who sustained a chronic dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) with extensive secondary cartilage damage and bone loss. We performed an open reduction to restore normal alignment of the distal part of the radius and the distal part of the ulna while preserving the structures that provide stability to the DRUJ.

At eighteen months postoperatively, the patient had regained 60° of pronation and 60° of supination and did not have any pain. We found that even in a chronic injury, a simple anatomic reduction can restore the stability of the DRUJ.