Common complications of a Galeazzi fracture include which of the following?

• A. Lateral epicondyle fracture
• B. Nonunion, delayed union, malunion
• C. Osteoarthritis of the wrist
• D. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that a Galeazzi fracture disrupts both the distal radius and the distal radioulnar joint, so problems with healing and joint alignment are common concerns after this injury. If the radius doesn’t unite or heals slowly, or if it heals in a misaligned position (malunion), the distal radioulnar articulation becomes unstable or incongruent. That leads to chronic wrist pain, reduced forearm rotation (pronation and supination), and functional limitation. These healing-related issues—nonunion, delayed union, and malunion—are frequent enough in Galeazzi injuries to be considered common complications.

Other options aren’t as typical a direct consequence. A lateral epicondyle fracture involves the elbow and isn’t part of the Galeazzi pattern. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur with wrist swelling or compression in some injuries, but it’s not a primary or most common complication of this fracture pattern. Osteoarthritis of the wrist can develop later due to DRUJ damage, but the more immediate and characteristic issues are problems of healing and alignment—the very problems captured by nonunion, delayed union, and malunion.