Galeazzi Fracture

This is a 31 year old male who presents following an ATV accident with arm pain. There is a fracture of the distal radius as indicated by the red arrow. As indicated by the green arrow, there is a dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint with distal dislocation of the ulna relative to the radius. The red arrow on the lateral radiograph demonstrates the radius fracture. The mechanism of the injury involes a fracture of the radius with transfer of the forces through the interosseous membrane with exit of the force at the distal radioulnar joint. If the distal radioulnar joint dislocation is not recognized, the patient will likely have instability at the wrist and develop secondary osteoarthritis.