Conservative Management of Madelung Deformity of the Wrist in a 15-Year-Old Male: A Case Report

A 15-year-old boy presented to an outpatient sports medicine clinic with mysterious wrist pain for three months. Imaging diagnosed this mysterious wrist pain as a Madelung deformity, a rare condition characterized primarily by the early cessation of growth in the volar-ulnar distal physis of the radius. Patients may present with restricted wrist range of motion, pain, and ulnar tenderness, but they may also be asymptomatic. Traditionally, treatment is surgical, but this case was managed with conservative measures primarily, with improvements in both function and outcomes. This case report should serve as a reminder to include rare diagnoses in the differential when working up joint pain and to show the role of conservative management in Madelung deformity.