Abstract
Background
Chronic dislocation of the radial head treatment in Monteggia fracture dislocation is still controversial. We present a large series of patients treated in our Institution.
Materials and methods
The outcome of 22 children treated surgically between 1988 and 2011 for post-traumatic chronic radial head dislocation is reported. There were 12 girls and 10 boys with a mean age at surgery of 7.2 years (4.1–13.6). The mean interval between injury and treatment was 15.7 months (1–128). Nine patients underwent open reduction with removal of interposed tissue and repair (7) or Bell-Tawse reconstruction (2) of the annular ligament. Ten patients underwent osteotomy, gradual lengthening and angulation of the ulna by external fixation. Two patients underwent angular osteotomy of the proximal ulna with open wedge, open reduction in the radial head and reconstruction of the annular ligament. One patient admitted to the hospital 10 years after injury underwent radial head excision at 13.7 years of age.
Results
After a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (1–24.3), the radial head stayed reduced in 15 patients and subluxated in 5. In one case, redislocation occurred. All patients but five were pain-free. The elbow performance score (Kim score) was excellent in 14 cases, good in four and fair in four, with a mean score of 91, corresponding to a good result. Complications included a transient posterior interosseus nerve palsy (1), and one non-union of the ulna.
Discussion and conclusion
Chronic Monteggia lesions must be treated. The clinical outcomes are usually better than the congruency of the radiocapitellar joint.
Level of evidence
IV (Case series with no comparison group).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Koslowsky TC, Mader K, Wulke AP et al (2006) Operative treatment of chronic Monteggia lesion in younger children: a report of three cases. J Shoulder Elb Surg 15:119–121. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2004.12.002
Bell Tawse AJ (1965) The treatment of malunited anterior Monteggia fractures in children. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 47-B:718–723 PMID: 5846773; ISSN: 0301620X
Best TN (1994) Management of old unreduced Monteggia fracture dislocations of the elbow in children. J Pediatr Orthop 14:193–199. doi:10.1097/01241398-199403000-00012
Fowles JV, Sliman N, Kassab MT (1983) The Monteggia lesion in children fracture of the ulna and dislocation of the radial head. J Bone Joint Surg 65-A:1276–1282 PMID: 6654941
Freedman L, Luk K, Leong JCY (1988) Radial head reduction after a missed Monteggia fracture: brief report. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 70-B:846–847 PMID: 3192599
Hirayama T, Takemitsu Y, Yagihara K et al (1987) Operation for chronic dislocation of the radial head in children. Reduction by osteotomy of the ulna. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 69-B:639–642 PMID: 3611173
Kalamchi A (1968) Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children. Late treatment in two cases. J Bone Joint Surg 68-A:615–619 PMID: 3957989
Lloyd-Roberts GC, Bucknill TM (1977) Anterior dislocation of the radial head in children: aetiology, natural history and management. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 59-B:402–407 PMID: 925049
Stelling FH, Cote RH (1956) Traumatic dislocation of the head of radius in children. J Am Med Assoc 160:732–736. doi:10.1001/jama.1956.02960440004002
Hui JHP, Sulaiman AR, Lee HC et al (2005) Open reduction and annular ligament reconstruction with fascia of the forearm in chronic Monteggia lesions in children. J Pediatr Orthop 25(4):501–506
Kim HT, Conjares JNV, Suh JT et al (2002) Chronic radial head dislocation in children, Part 1: pathologic changes preventing stable reduction and surgical correction. J Pediatr Orthop 22:583–590. doi:10.1097/01241398-200209000-00004
Lädermann A, Ceroni D, Lefèvre Y et al (2007) Surgical treatment of missed Monteggia lesions in children. J Child Orthop 1:237–242. doi:10.1007/s11832-007-0039-z
Seel MJ, Peterson HA (1999) Management of chronic posttraumatic radial head dislocation in children. J Pediatr Orthop 19(3):306–312. doi:10.1097/01241398-199905000-00006
Bado JL (1967) The Monteggia lesion. Clin Orthop 50:71–86. doi:10.1097/00003086-196701000-00008
Bruce HE, Harvey JP, Wilson JC Jr (1974) Monteggia fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am 56:1563–1576 PMID: 4434024; ISSN: 00219355
Chen WS (1992) Late neuropathy in chronic dislocation of the radial head. Report of two cases. Acta Orthop Scand 63:343–344. doi:10.3109/17453679209154798
Dormans JP, Rang M (1990) The problem of Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children. Orthop Clin North Am 21:251–256 PMID: 2326051
Hory E, Nakamura R, Koh S et al (2002) Surgical treatment for chronic radial head dislocation. J Bone Joint Surg 84:1183–1188
Stanley E, De la Garza JF (1996) Monteggia fracture dislocation in children. In: Rockwood CA Jr, Wilkins KE, Beaty JH (eds) Fractures in children, 4th edn. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, pp 548–586
Boyd HB, Boals JC (1969) The Monteggia lesion. A review of 159 cases. Clin Orthop 66:94–100. doi:10.1097/00003086-196909000-00014
Nakamura K, Hirachi K, Uchiyama S et al (2009) Long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after open reduction for missed Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children. J Bone Joint Surg Am 91:1394–1404. doi:10.2106/JBJS.H.00644
Exner GU (2001) Missed chronic anterior Monteggia lesion. Closed reduction by gradual lengthening and angulation of the ulna. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 83-B:547–550
Bouyala JM, Chestrian P, Ramaherison P (1978) L’osteotomie haute du cubitus dans le traitment de la luxations anterieure residuelle après fracture de Monteggia. Chir Pediatr 19:201–203 PMID: 709721; ISSN: 01805738
Gyr BM, Stevens PM, Smith JT (2004) Chronic Monteggia fractures in children: outcome after treatment with the Bell-Tawse procedure. J Pediatr Orthop B 13:402–406. doi:10.1097/01202412-200411000-00011
Hasler CC, Von Laer L, Hell AK (2005) Open reduction, ulnar osteotomy and external fixation for chronic anterior dislocation of the head of the radius. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 87-B:88–94. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.87B1.14669
Inoue G, Shionoya K (1998) Corrective ulnar osteotomy for malunited anterior Monteggia lesions in children. Acta Orthop Scand 69(1):73–76. doi:10.3109/17453679809002361
Kim HT, Park BG, Suh JT et al (2002) Chronic radial head dislocation in children, Part 2: results of open treatment and factors affecting final outcome. J Pediatr Orthop 22:591–597. doi:10.1097/01241398-200209000-00005
Wang MN, Chang WN (2006) Chronic posttraumatic anterior dislocation of the radial head in children. Thirteen cases treated by open reduction, ulnar osteotomy, and annular ligament reconstruction through a Boyd incision. J Orthop Trauma 20(1):1–5. doi:10.1097/01.bot.0000189881.75421.92
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Human and animal rights
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Ethical Committee approved no. 18779.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Di Gennaro, G.L., Martinelli, A., Bettuzzi, C. et al. Outcomes after surgical treatment of missed Monteggia fractures in children. Musculoskelet Surg 99 (Suppl 1), 75–82 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-015-0362-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-015-0362-3