Displaced fracture of the neck of the radius with complete 180 degrees rotation of the radial head during closed reduction

Abstract

We report a case of fracture of the radial neck in a teenage girl in which 180 degrees rotation of the radial head occurred at close reduction. Although this was corrected, avascular necrosis of the radial head occurred. To our knowledge only four cases of such iatrogenic malpositioning have been described in the literature.