Simultaneous Reconstruction of the Distal Radioulnar Joint Ligaments and Interosseous Membrane Combined with Ulna Shortening Osteotomy for Chronic Essex-Lopresti Injury

Abstract

The Essex-Lopresti pattern of injury comprises radial head fracture, distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) dislocation and disruption of the interosseus membrane (IOM). Diagnosis is often delayed, and reconstruction remains a management dilemma, with several proposed techniques addressing the radial head via either replacement or fixation; reconstruction of the DRUJ ligaments via anatomic or non-anatomic methods; and IOM reconstruction with synthetic grafts, allograft or autograft. We present a 26-year-old man with a chronic Essex-Lopresti injury who underwent revision ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO), IOM reconstruction using a brachioradialis graft and an Adams–Berger ligament reconstruction of the DRUJ ligaments following a three-year course of increasing pain and instability following radial head dislocation. This case demonstrates the feasibility of a single-stage reconstruction of a chronic Essex-Lopresti injury using a brachioradialis and a palmaris longus autograft. Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)