Essex Lopresti Fracture

Description: - radial head fracture plus dislocation of distal RU joint (& interosseous membrane disruption);
- mechanism: fall from height;
- in this type of frx, radius will also migrate proximally if radial head is excised;
- if injury is not found when it is acute, pt may develop severe wrist pain from radial migration and subluxation, of upto 5-6 mm;
- there may be loss of forearm pronation, supination, and extension;
- late reconstruction(> 4 weeks) of radial instability yields poor results;
Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics