Acute Isolated Volar Distal Radioulnar Joint Dislocation Treated With Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Kirschner...

Isolated volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) without associated fracture is a rare wrist injury that may be overlooked because clinical and radiographic findings can be subtle. We report the case of a 19-year-old male rodeo rider who presented with severe left wrist pain, swelling, and inability to rotate the forearm following a torsional injury. Radiographs demonstrated an isolated volar DRUJ dislocation without associated fracture. Initial closed reduction was unsuccessful. Under anesthesia, reduction was achieved but was unstable, requiring percutaneous radioulnar transfixation with Kirschner wires and immobilization. At the two-month follow-up, the patient was pain-free, had preserved pronation and supination, and demonstrated a clinically stable DRUJ. This case highlights the importance of early recognition, appropriate reduction, and stabilization when instability persists after reduction.