Upper Limb Trauma
A 28-year-old motorcyclist presents after a high-speed collision. He has obvious deformity of his right upper limb with an open wound over the forearm. Radiographs reveal a displaced supracondylar humerus fracture and ipsilateral forearm fractures (both radius and ulna shaft). The radial pulse is weak compared to the contralateral side and the hand is cool. Urgent vascular assessment is performed. Regarding floating elbow injuries:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Floating elbow is defined as ipsilateral fractures of the humerus and forearm (radius and/or ulna) i...
Vascular injury occurs in 10-20% of cases, particularly with supracondylar or distal humerus fractur...
Floating elbow is a low-energy injury; vascular injury is rare; compartment syndrome never occurs; t...
Treatment requires surgical fixation of both fracture sites to restore stability and allow early reh...
Complications include: stiffness (30-50% have permanent elbow motion loss), nonunion, malunion, hete...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option