Anterior Dislocation of the Radial Head Combined with Plastic Deformity of the Ulnar Shaft in an Adult: A Case Report

Abstract

A 25-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with a painful and swollen right forearm. She had just sustained an injury from an accident during which her arm was tightly wound by a rope as she was lowering a net from a fishing boat. Before being released, her arm was rigidly trapped in the rope for approximately ten minutes. Radiographs revealed anterior dislocation of the radial head that was accompanied by plastic deformation of the proximal ulna, manifested as a reversal of the proximal dorsal angulation of the ulna (PUDA); suggested a Monteggia equivalent fracture. With the patient under general anesthesia, we reduced the radial head by posterior compression at 90° of elbow flexion and at neutral rotation of the forearm. However, the reduction was easily lost and the elbow re-dislocated with even slight supination or extension of the arm. After the osteotomy of the ulnar deformity to restore the PUDA to normal, the reduction remained stable even with manipulation of the arm. We found that the patient could exercise a full range of motion without pain at the 3-month follow-up, and neither residual instability nor degenerative changes were observed at the final 3-year follow-up.