Comminuted Distal Radius Fracture with Concomitant Median Nerve Transection: A Case Report and Literature Review

A 41-year-old woman sustained a distal radius fracture with concomitant median nerve transection. The wound was consistent with an inside-to-outside mechanism with noted metaphyseal bone loss at the level of the median nerve injury. The median nerve was not amenable to primary repair, and given concern for inability to define the zone of the injury, the patient underwent delayed reconstruction of the nerve.

A review of the literature highlights the rare incidence of this combined injury that can be undetected or misdiagnosed as an acute carpal tunnel syndrome or stretch injury to the median nerve.