Elbow fracture-dislocations

Terrible triad

elbow dislocation associated with a LCL complex tear, radial head fracture, and coronoid tip fracture

Monteggia

fracture of ulnar shaft with radial head dislocation
pitfalls: look for distal radius fractures as well
management: ORIF

Galeazzi

fracture of radius with distal radioulnar dislocation

GRUesome MURder assists remembering which bone is firstly fractured and then secondly which is dislocated:

  • G: Galeazzi R: radius fracture U: ulna dislocation
  • M: Monteggia U: ulna fracture R: radial head dislocation