Essex Lopresti (Subscribe)  

- 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 ...

* comminuted fracture of radial head
* dislocation of distal radio-ulnar joint
* due to longitudinal compression force

PubMed Search for Essex Lopresti Forearm Injuries. Fracture of the radial head, dislocation of the distal radio-ulna joint and disruption of the inter-osseous ligament of the forearm.

Isolated dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint and isolated dislocation of the radial head in adults are not common injuries. A simultaneous dislocation of the radial head and distal radio-ulnar joint with no other injury seems to be extremely rare since only one report was found in the English literature....

The Essex-Lopresti injury consists of a radial head fracture with associated injury to the forearm interosseus membrane and longitudinal instability of the distal radioulnar joint. Early recognition of this disorder usually results in a predictable and satisfactory outcome. However, when this disorder is unrecognized, late reconstruction is challenging and unpredictable,...

The Essex-Lopresti syndrome may develop after a proximal radial fracture such as a radial head fracture, excision of the radial head for fracture, or a displaced proximal radial shaft fracture. The Essex-Lopresti syndrome results when such a fracture, associated with disruption of the forearm interosseous membrane, allows proximal migration...