Fracture of the Humeral Shaft Associated to Elbow Dislocation and Fracture of the Distal-third of the Forearm: Case Report^[*]

Abstract

Humeral shaft fractures combined with elbow dislocation and fracture of the distal third of the bones of the forearm are uncommon. No description of this simultaneous association has been found in the same patient. Some studies report the association of these two lesions; however, no reports on the three ipsilateral lesions have been found at the PubMed, Lilacs and Bireme databases. The present report describes a case that occurred in a 13-year-old boy who suffered a fall from a height of approximately three meters and was admitted to a trauma hospital. Radiographs showed an ipsilateral humeral shaft fracture combined with elbow dislocation and a fracture of the distal-third of the bones of the forearm. Under general anesthesia, the injuries were readily reduced by closed manipulation, obtaining a satisfactory reduction of the injuries. Following this, an antebrachiopalmar splint and a commercial Velpeau shoulder immobilizer for the treatment of the humerus diaphyseal fracture were used. After 1 week, the patient presented non-alignment of the diaphyseal fracture of the humerus and was submitted to surgical treatment with flexible retrograde intramedullary nailing, antebrachiopalmar cast, and a commercial Velpeau shoulder immobilizer.

Keywords

humeral fractures - elbow - orthopedic pins - orthopedic wires - internal fixation of fractures

^* Work developed at Instituto Doutor José Frota, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

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