Diagnosis and Treatment of Galeazzi Fracture

Pre-operative Assessment

• The American College of Radiology recommends obtaining standard 3-view radiographs of the wrist to confirm the diagnosis of Galeazzi fracture-dislocation, and considers CT imaging if initial radiographs are equivocal or to better characterize the fracture pattern and DRUJ involvement for surgical planning 1

Surgical Technique

Wound Closure and Post-operative Care

• The World Health Organization recommends irrigating the wound thoroughly, closing the wound in layers, and applying sterile dressing and splint, as outlined in the Clinical Microbiology and Infection journal 2
• The World Journal of Emergency Surgery suggests administering appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis for closed fractures 3, 4

Special Considerations

• The World Journal of Emergency Surgery notes that elderly patients may require special attention to bone quality and fixation methods, and that open fractures require thorough debridement and appropriate antibiotic coverage 3, 4
• The Clinical Microbiology and Infection journal recommends considering bone grafting for fractures with bone loss or comminution 2