Entrapment of the median nerve and flexor pollicis longus tendon after a high-energy fracture of the distal radius

Comminuted Distal Radius Fracture with Concomitant Median Nerve Transection

“…Direct injury with complete nerve transection is rare with only 2 reports in the literature both describing entrapment and transection of the median nerve in the setting of minimally displaced diaphyseal radial fractures 3,4 . High-energy mechanisms of injury that result in comminuted distal radius fractures can place the integument, tendons, and neurovascular structures at risk of sustaining a severe injury 5 . This case report illustrates a patient who presented with an open, comminuted, displaced distal radius, and ulna fractures with associated median nerve transection.…”

Extensor Tendon Entrapment on Computed Tomography Imaging of Distal Radius Fractures

“…1 Tendon interposition or entrapment within the fracture site may occur during the acute fracture injury or after closed reduction. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Delayed recognition may lead to tendon rupture or bony encirclement with residual deformity and functional impairment. [9][10][11][12][13] Clinical findings of tendon entrapment include failure of closed reduction, loss of active motion of digits, positive tenodesis effect, and residual dorsal wrist pain.…”

“…14 Tendon entrapment associated with distal radius fractures has been recognized in several case reports in the literature. 2,4,8,11,15 A single retrospective study by Okazaki et al reported an incidence of 1.3% of tendon entrapments in 701 distal radius fractures that were diagnosed clinically and confirmed intraoperatively. 14 Three radiographic views of the wrist are usually sufficient to identify most distal radius fractures.…”