Isolated Avulsion Fracture of the Extensor Carpi Ulnaris: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Avulsion fractures of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) insertion are rare injuries that are poorly described in the literature. Several case reports detail closed ECU ruptures, however, only one previous case report describes an ECU avulsion fracture from the insertion on the fifth metacarpal base in the setting of multiple wrist and hand injuries. To our knowledge, we present the only case report of an isolated ECU avulsion fracture. In our case, a 35-year-old female presented with ulnar-sided wrist pain after forcefully impacting a steering wheel while radially deviating her wrist. She was diagnosed with an ECU avulsion fracture and elected to undergo open repair with a suture button technique. The patient recovered to nearly full strength and range of motion compared to her contralateral side by her eight-week visit. She returned back to work without restrictions after completing hand therapy.