Ipsilateral Radial Head Dislocation And Proximal One-Third Radial Shaft Fracture In An Adult: A Case Report

Dislocation of the radial head in adults is quite uncommon. A simultaneous dislocation of the radial head with a fracture of ipsilateral shaft radius without any other associated injury is even rare.

We are reporting a case of a young adult male who was operated for proximal one-third radial shaft fracture at some peripheral centre by Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF), but came to our centre on the fourth post-operative day with complaints of painful restricted movements of the elbow joint. On careful look at the postoperative x-ray, radial head was found to be dislocated. Radial head dislocation was reduced under general anesthesia and at 2 years follow up, patient fracture has fully united having good functional outcome.

Traumatic dislocation of radial head with ipsilateral fracture shaft radius is a rare injury in adults and it is very important to timely diagnose it and manage it appropriately in order to give good functional outcome to the patient.