Distal Radius Fracture with Bone Fragment Protruded into the Radiocarpal Joint: Two Case Reports

J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol. 2021 Sep;26(3):460-462. doi: 10.1142/S2424835521720164.

Abstract

Distal radius fractures often involve comminuted fragments of the dorsal cortex of the radius, but bone fragments rarely protrude into the radiocarpal joint. We report two cases of distal radius fracture with bone fragment protrusion into the radiocarpal joint. To the best of our knowledge, there are no English reports of distal radius fracture with bone fragment protrusion into the radiocarpal joint. Despite the rarity of these cases, clinicians should still be mindful of such injuries and not overlook the possibility of presence of bone fragments within the joint. Missed intra-articular fragments may cause pain, limited range of motion, and subsequent osteoarthritis.

Keywords: Bone fragment; Computed tomography; Distal radius fracture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Fractures, Comminuted / diagnostic imaging
  • Fractures, Comminuted / surgery
  • Humans
  • Radius / diagnostic imaging
  • Radius Fractures* / diagnostic imaging
  • Radius Fractures* / surgery
  • Wrist Joint