Volar Radiocarpal Dislocation: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Radiocarpal dislocations (RCDs) are one of the rare injuries that happen to the wrist in which there is a partial or complete loss of contact between the carpus and distal radius. We present the case of volar RCD in a 25-year-old male patient. He reported to the ED with pain on the wrist of his left forearm. The patient had met with a motor vehicle accident and was put on forearm cast in the previous hospital. Initial clinical examination showed swelling with no visible deformity with good capillary fill; X-ray images showed no fracture, and he was again put on forearm cast giving an orthopedic clinic appointment. A missed diagnosis of left wrist complete volar RCD was found when we reviewed the X-ray, and the patient was called for immediate surgical treatment. He was treated under general anesthesia with closed reduction, and three parallel percutaneous Kirschner wires were pinned to the left radiocarpal joint. Occupational therapy to improve the range of motion and muscle strengthening were done, and clinical follow-up showed improvement in the extension, flexion, and muscle power. The patient was satisfied with the outcome and after three months of follow-up showed no new problems.