Ipsilateral traumatic floating elbow and floating forearm in adults; A case report

TL;DR

A rare case of a severe upper limb injury in an adult was successfully treated with surgery and rehabilitation.

Contribution

This is the first reported case of ipsilateral floating elbow and floating forearm with radial nerve palsy in adults.

Findings

The patient achieved successful fracture healing and near-full range of motion after surgery.

Radial nerve function recovered within 14 weeks postoperatively.

The case demonstrates favorable outcomes in complex upper limb trauma through timely surgical intervention.

Abstract

This case report describes a rare and complex upper limb injury involving ipsilateral traumatic floating elbow and floating forearm in a 35-year-old male. The patient suffered fractures of the left distal third humerus, olecranon, and both forearm bones, along with anterior radial head dislocation and radial nerve injury due to a pump explosion.

Open reduction and internal fixation of all fractures in a single operation was done with radial nerve exploration.

Post-operative care and rehabilitation led to successful fracture healing, near-full range of motion, and recovery of radial nerve function by 14 weeks postoperatively.

This case highlights the importance of prioritizing injury management in complex upper limb trauma and demonstrates that favorable outcomes can be achieved even in severe polytraumatized limb injuries thought to be the first case in the literature.

•Double floating injury consisting of ipsilateral floating forearm and floating elbow ⁠with pre-operative radial nerve palsy•⁠Surgical management done with plates fixations of all injuries with radial nerve exploration•⁠Clinical and radiological amazing outcomes had been achieved 3 months post operatively with radial nerve recovery

Double floating injury consisting of ipsilateral floating forearm and floating elbow ⁠with pre-operative radial nerve palsy

⁠Surgical management done with plates fixations of all injuries with radial nerve exploration

⁠Clinical and radiological amazing outcomes had been achieved 3 months post operatively with radial nerve recovery

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