Objective To summarize operative procedure and the effectiveness of open reduction with internal fixation or radial head replacement for the treatment of Essex-Lopresti injury. Methods Between November 2002 and October 2010, 10 patients with Essex-Lopresti injury were treated. There were 8 males and 2 females with a mean age of 36 years (range, 20-56 years). Eight cases were fresh closed fracture within 2 days. According to Mason classification, 5 fracture were typeII, 3 were type III. The other 2 cases were old fracture within 3 months. Wrist joint X-ray revealed that all the patients had distal radioulnar joint dislocation. Open reduction with internal mini-plate or absorbable screw fixation was performed in 5 cases, and radial head replacement in 5 cases; meanwhile, the distal radioulnar joint was reducted and fixed. Results All incisions healed by first intention without infection or bone nonunion. The patients were followed up 7 to 24 months with an average of 14.7 months. The X-ray films showed fracture heal ing at 9-20 weeks (mean, 16.3 weeks); distal radioulnar joint was stable without shortening or shift of proximal radius. According to elbow cl inical evaluation system, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases. According to wrist cl inical evaluation, the results were excellent in 7 cases, good in 2 cases, and fair in 1 case. All patients had good elbow stabil ity, and recovered quickly. Conclusion Early diagnosis, operation, and functional exercises are important to obtain an excellent result in treating Essex-Lopresti injury.