Traumatic dislocation of the radius at the elbow.

Traumatic dislocation of the radius at the elbow as an isolated lesion is considered a rare injury. Other authors have described the condition, particularly the clinical features including the classification of the types of dislocation, the possible mechanism of injury and the management (Thomas 1929, Stelling and Cote 1956, TraVaglini 1962, Vesely 1967, DePalma 1970, Smith 1972). Scant knowledge is available as to the nature of the pathological lesion which permits such an unusual displacement of the radius (Spinner and Kaplan 1970). The purpose of this paper is to report ten cases of this injury, with a study of the relevant anatomical features. MECHANISM OF INJURY From the history it is impossible to be certain of the exact position of the forearm and elbow at the time ofinjury. It is probable that the elbow is partly outstretched and the forearm pronated (Vesely 1967). Further violence is applied to the pronated forearm in at least one