Floating Forearm with Terrible Triad Injury of the Elbow: A Case Report

Floating forearm is rare. Simultaneous terrible triad injury of the elbow is even rarer.

A 47-year-old male patient presented with concurrent dorsal perilunate dislocation of the left wrist combined with a terrible triad injury of the left elbow after a fall from the second floor. The patient had an immediate reduction of the dislocated elbow. Then, a fixation of the radial head by screws, anterior capsule suture, and lateral collateral ligament repair was performed. The wrist dislocation was reduced and fixed with K-wires through a dorsal approach. At 12 months, the patient only complained of moderate pain on heavy lifting and had resumed his work.

A perilunate dislocation of the wrist may occur simultaneously to a terrible triad injury of the elbow at the same side, especially in polytrauma patients. These patients should be examined carefully. An urgent surgical treatment has been successful, while severe damage to the function of the superior limb may result if the diagnosis is missed.