Treatment of a Rare Case of Longitudinal Forearm Instability: A Case Report

A 41-year old man fell from height sustaining displaced radial shaft and ulnar styloid fractures underwent open reduction internal fixation of the radius with early recognition of a radiocapitellar dislocation and longitudinal forearm instability in the early postoperative period. Revision surgery was performed 13 days postoperatively involving annular ligament reconstruction, elbow spanning external fixation, and distal radioulnar joint stabilization. Favorable functional and radiographic outcomes are shown at 1-year follow-up.

Longitudinal forearm instability is associated with multiple patterns of forearm fractures. Early recognition of the injury with appropriate anatomic reconstruction likely results in improved outcome.