Galeazzi Fracture

This is a fracture of the distal third of the radius with a distal radio-ulnar dislocation. It was first described by Riccardo Galeazzi in 1934. This injury requires surgical fixation. If the fracture/dislocation are not fixed appropriately the patient may have permanent sequelae, including: difficulty with pronation/supination, chronic pain, weakness, non or malunion. The radio-ulnar dislocation may be subtle and warrants close examination of a forearm xray with a distal radius fracture.

A Galeazzi fracture (also known as a reverse Monteggia fracture) should not be confused with a Monteggia fracture, which is an ulnar shaft fracture with a radial head dislocation