Question

Patient presents with right elbow pain after a fall. What's the diagnosis and what other injury should you look for?

Answer

Displaced fracture of the proximal ulna.

Pearls

• Always look for injury at the radial head when the proximal ulna is fractured, specifically looking for a radial head dislocation; this pattern is known as a Monteggia fracture.
• Remember the mnemonic MUGR (MU-GR)
  • Monteggia fracture-dislocation = Ulnar fracture with a proximal radial dislocation
  • Galeazzi fracture-dislocation = Radial fracture with a distal radioulnar dislocation

References

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