Fracture of the distal radius with ulnar nerve palsy

A patient with immediate palsy of the ulnar nerve secondary to a distal fracture of the radius and possibly a dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint (Galeazzi's fracture) is described. Surgery demonstrated a serious contusion of the nerve, scarring around the nerve, and thrombosis of the ulnar artery. Symptoms rapidly disappeared after neurolysis.