Is it not possible to have surgery on a Galeazzi fracture?

A fracture of the middle and lower third of the radius with joint dislocation is called a Galeazzi fracture. This fracture was once called a reverse Monteggia fracture, and its incidence is more than 6 times that of a Monteggia fracture. This fracture is mainly caused by violent impact and can cause forearm pain, local hematoma, limited movement, and local deformity. Can a Galeazzi fracture be treated without surgery? What are the non-surgical treatments for Galeazzi fractures?

1. Occipital fractures cannot be operated on: Clinically, there are three types of occipital fractures, including greenstick type, simple type, and double fracture type. The latter two must be treated surgically. The greenstick type is more common in children, has a good prognosis, and cannot be operated on. In order to determine the type and severity of the fracture, an X-ray examination is required. This fracture needs to be differentiated from distal radius fractures and double fractures of the ulnar and radial shafts.

2. Non-surgical treatment of Galeazzi fracture: In the acute stage, it is necessary to try reduction and fixation. Reduction under traction is not difficult, but maintaining reduction is not easy. In order to relieve the pain during reduction, local anesthesia is required, and plaster or splints are used for fixation after successful reduction. If the pain is severe, you can take painkillers. Patients with severe soft tissue injuries can use dehydration and swelling drugs appropriately to promote the disappearance of hematoma. In the process of fixation with plaster, you must pay attention to symptoms such as numbness and pain in the fingers. Once these symptoms appear, you must be highly alert to compartment syndrome, and if necessary, incision and decompression should be performed to avoid irreversible lesions.

The above are non-surgical treatments for Galeazzi fractures, including manual reduction, plaster fixation, and drug therapy. Only greenstick fractures can be treated without surgery. Simple and double fractures should be treated promptly. Surgical methods include open reduction, internal fixation, and external fixation. After surgery, be sure to be alert to compartment syndrome, elevate the affected limb, and pay close attention to blood circulation. No weight-bearing is allowed within one year after surgery to avoid affecting internal fixation. After one year, the internal fixation can be removed based on the recovery situation.