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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo)
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779333
Relato de Caso

Radioulnar Synostosis after Endomedullary Fixation of the Radius and Ulna in a Patient with Floating Elbow: A Case Report

Article in several languages: português | English
Manuel Ricardo Medellin Rincon 
1   Departamento de Cirurgia Ortopédica, Fundación Clinica Shaio, Bogotá, Colômbia
,
Diana Camila Navarro Pimiento 
1   Departamento de Cirurgia Ortopédica, Fundación Clinica Shaio, Bogotá, Colômbia
,
Edwin Nicolas Ortegon Candela 
1   Departamento de Cirurgia Ortopédica, Fundación Clinica Shaio, Bogotá, Colômbia
,
Camila Muñoz Vanegas 
1   Departamento de Cirurgia Ortopédica, Fundación Clinica Shaio, Bogotá, Colômbia
,
Raul Ernesto Gonzalez Chavez 
1   Departamento de Cirurgia Ortopédica, Fundación Clinica Shaio, Bogotá, Colômbia
› Author Affiliations Financial Support This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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Abstract

Floating elbow is a complex and rare entity caused by high-energy trauma. In this paper, we present the case of a patient who suffered a traffic accident with severe head trauma, floating elbow (humeral diaphyseal fracture, radial proximal diaphyseal fracture, and ulnar segmental fracture) and radial nerve injury. Fixations were made with a humeral plate and intramedullary nails in the forearm. Although the outcome was satisfactory, radioulnar synostosis was identified in postoperative controls. Due to the neurological compromise, type of fractures, and stabilization selected, we believe that the use of forearm intramedullary nails for similar cases should be carefully evaluated.

Keywords

radial nerve - forearm - forearm injuries - craniocerebral trauma - synostosis

* Work developed at the Orthopedics Department, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia.




Publication History

Received: 24 May 2023

Accepted: 28 July 2023

Article published online:
15 May 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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