Addressing the Central Band in Acute and Chronic Essex-Lopresti Injury: A Case Report and Technique Description.

Case: A 34-year-old man was acutely treated with radial head arthroplasty and central band repair following Essex-Lopresti injury. A 38-year-old man presented with chronic longitudinal instability following failed radial head arthroplasty, which was performed for failed fixation. Treatment with revision radial head arthroplasty and central band reconstruction restored longitudinal stability.

Conclusion: We have a low threshold to repair the central band in acute Essex-Lopresti injury with sufficient evidence of disruption. Nearly all chronic cases require central band reconstruction to restore longitudinal stability. We do not temporarily pin the DRUJ, and distal ulnar shortening is rarely indicated.