ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize experiences of operative treatment for Essex-Lopresti injury, and analyze the effect of the compare repair of interosseous membrane of forearm(IOM)on the forearm function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four patients of Essex-Lopresti injury were treated from January 2005 to December 2013, 16 patients(group A) with radius and/or ulna fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation of radius or ulna and repair of forearm bone membrane at the same time, and then treated with open reduction and internal fixation of head of radius, as well as lower ulnar joint fixation or repair of wrist triangle fiber complex. Another 8 patients without radius and or ulna fractures(group B) were treated with open reduction and internal fixation of head of radius, as well as lower ulnar joint fixation or repair of wrist triangle fiber complex. The wrist joint function was evaluated using Cooney wrist functional rating index, and the elbow joint function was evaluated using Mayo elbow-performance score 2 weeks and 2 years after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to Cooney wrist functional rating index, 4 patients in group A got a fair result and 12 poor, 2 patients in group B got a fair result and 6 poor 2 weeks after operation; 8 patients in group A got a good result, 6 fair and 2 poor, 5 patients in group B got a good result, 2 fair and 1 poor 2 years after operation. According to Mayo elbow-performance score, 2 patients in group A got a good result, fair and 6 poor, 1 patient in group B got a good result, 5 fair and 2 poor 2 weeks after operation; 8 patients in group A got a good result, 6 fair and 2 poor, 4 patients in group B got a good result, 3 fair and 1 poor. There were no statistically differences between two groups 2 weeks and 2 years after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is important to restore the length of radius and/or ulna and maintain the dynamic stabilization of elbow and wrist for treat Essex-Lopresti injury. The repair of IOM has no effect on the forearm function.</p>
ABSTRACT
The authors report the case of a patient with the combination of a Type I Monteggia equivalent lesion and Essex-Lopresti injury. This combination of injury is very rare, and an associated distal radioulnar injury is often missed. We hope our experience illustrates the need to examine the wrist joint carefully and to be aware of the potential for distal radioulnar joint instability in all patients with type I Monteggia equivalent lesions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Joint Instability , Wrist JointABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effect of pronator teres tendon reconstructing the forearm interosseous membrane(IOM)central band on restoring the longitudinal stability of the forearm after Essex-Lopresti injury.Methods A total of ten fresh-frozen adult cadaveric forearms were loaded axially through the humeral and the distal radius.Each forearm was tested as following six steps:radial head excision,radial head plus excision of triangular fibrocartilage complex(TFCC),radial head plus TFCC plus excision of IOM central band,reconstructing central band with pronator teres tendon,metallic radial head prosthesis replacement,central band reconstruction plus radial head prosthesis replacement.The difference of the load exerted to displace the radius to the proximal for 5 mm was compared at different steps by using single-factor analysis of variance.Then,the effect of each step on restoring the forearm longitudinal stability of the forearmwas evaluated.Results There was statistical difference upon load for the radial displacement to the proximal for 5 mm in all six steps,ie,(74.51±15.17)N,(49.23±6.14)N,(17.83±4.73)N,(27.40±3.56)N,(140.25±25.39)Nand(164.21±28.26)N,respectively(P＜0.01).With migration of the radius to proximal for 5 mm,the load for pronator teres reconstruction was 55.66% of radial head plus TFCC,and the load for pronator teres reconstruction plus radial head prosthesis replacement was 559.31% of IOM reconstruction step and 333.56% of radial head excision.Conclusions Reconstruction of the central band with pronator teres tendon is insufficient to restore the longitudinal stability of the forearm after Essex-Lopresti injury.Reconstruction of the central band in combination with metallic radial head prosthesis replacement are beneficial to restoring the longitudinal stability of the forearm.