EVALUATION OF THE DISTAL RADIOULNAR JOINT RADIOLOGY AND FUNCTION AFTER SURGICAL TREATMENT OF GALEAZZI FRACTURE

Quyên Lê Ngọc, Hiếu Vũ Trung

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Abstract

Background: Galeazzi fracture is a combined injury involving a fracture of the radial shaft and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). The standard treatment involves open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the radius using a plate, followed by intraoperative assessment of the DRUJ and temporary K-wire fixation in cases of instability. Although this approach is widely used, the long-term effectiveness in restoring both function and anatomical integrity of the DRUJ remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the functional and radiographic outcomes of the DRUJ following surgical treatment of Galeazzi fracture and to investigate the correlation between these two aspects. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 32 patients who underwent surgical fixation for Galeazzi fracture with postoperative radiographs confirming anatomical reduction. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, DRUJ ballottement test, forearm pronation-supination range of motion, grip strength, and the modified Cooney score. Radiographic assessment included standard anteroposterior, lateral, and stress view (using a custom DRUJ translation device). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean follow-up duration was 14.6 ± 2.7 months. A total of 71.1% of patients achieved good to excellent functional outcomes. The mean VAS pain score was 1.22 (range: 0–6), with 65% of patients reporting no pain. A positive DRUJ ballottement test was found in 65.6% of cases. Stress radiographs revealed DRUJ subluxation or dislocation in 56.2% of patients. A statistically significant correlation was observed between radiographic instability and lower functional scores (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Surgical treatment of Galeazzi fractures results in relatively good functional recovery; however, the distal radioulnar joint remains unstable in a considerable proportion of cases.

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References

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