Galeazzi fracture-dislocations

Abstract

Among 125 patients with the Galeazzi-type fracture-dislocation of the forearm, there were fourteen children and eighty-six adults with the classic Galeazzi lesion, and twenty-five patients with a special type -- fracture of both bones and dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint. Conservative management was successful only in children. In adults this method resulted in failure in 80 per cent of cases. The results of operative treatment were much better. The fracture fragments of the radius and the dislocation of the radio-ulnar joint in this complex injury are very unstable, especially in the lesion with fractures of the radius and ulna, and it appears that rigid internal fixation is necessary for the dislocation as well as the fracture. With combined fixation over half of the results were excellent.