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Purpose:@#To investigate the characteristics of the onset and treatment of radial head subluxation (RHS) in pediatric clinics and emergency departments.@*Methods:@#A retrospective study was performed on 11, 404 RHS cases in 9827 children who visited pediatric clinics and emergency departments from January 2015 to December 2018. The patients who with history of trauma and fracture of the affected limb were excluded. The following factors were examined: the mechanisms of RHS, the type of manual reduction, the attending physician's clinical background (emergency surgeon, junior pediatric orthopedic surgeon or senior pediatric orthopedic surgeon), and the epidemiological features (gender, age, climate and location) of the injury.@*Results:@#The mean age of the patients was 27.93 ± 17.94 months (range 0.93-214.53 months), with a peak incidence of 10.73-44.53 months. Approximately two-thirds of RHS cases occurred in cold weather from January to March and from September to December. Females accounted for 53.81% (n = 6137) of the cases, and left injuries were predominant (56.87%, n = 6485) in all cases. Mechanisms of injury were classified as "pull" (90.57%, n =10, 339), "fall" (1.56%, n = 178), "hit" (0.75%, n = 86) and "unknown" (7.02%, n = 801). The overall success rate of manual reduction was 99.47%, and the success rate of reduction was higher for senior pediatric orthopedic surgeons than for emergency surgeons and junior pediatric orthopedic surgeons (p < 0.05). However, there was still a recurrence rate of 12.16% in the 9827 patients.@*Conclusion:@#Younger children are predisposed to RHS, and there is a possibility of recurrence. Trained emergency doctors can handle it well, but it is essential to refer patients to specialists when manual reduction failed.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in radial head subluxation (RHS).Methods The clinical data and ultrasonographic findings of 34 children with RHS were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were routinely treated by bilateral compared and multi-sectional elbow joints ultrasonography.And the X ray results were negative.Results Ultrasonographic manifestations of RHS included increased radiocapitellar distance in 29 cases (29/34,85.29％);widened joint space and enhanced echo in 25 cases (25/34,73.53％);hook sign,supinator muscle above the radial head in 32 cases (32/34,94.12 ％);annular ligament entrapment in 33 cases (33/34,97.06％).Conclusion Ultra sonographic manifestations of RHS have certain characteristics.Comparation of bilateral elbow joints and the application of continuous scanning ultrasound are helpful to make a quick and accurate diagnosis of X-ray negative RHS.
ABSTRACT
Nursemaid’s elbow is a radial head subluxation caused by axial traction on the extended arm while the forearm is pronated, allowing for slippage of the radial head. A 2-year-old boy presented with pain, swelling and reduced range of movement of the right elbow for 4 days. The mother noted that the child was moving the right upper limb less often and there was tenderness over the right elbow. X-ray of the right elbow showed subluxation of the elbow joint with no obvious fracture. A trial of conservative management was decided upon and the patient was placed on a right elbow backslab with the right forearm in a supine position. On follow-up, there was no swelling, tenderness or neurological deficit noted. A repeate x-ray revealed normal findings.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: If radial head subluxation, otherwise known as pulled elbow, occurs, closed reduction can be used in simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of the child. As the guardian seldom understands the maneuver without explanation, we revised a method to involve the caregiver in the treatment. METHODS: This was a prospective controlled study. From January, 2014 to December, 2014, children suspected of radial head subluxation, under the age of 6, were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was treated conventionally and the other group was treated while the parent's finger was on the patient's lateral epicondyle. A total of three attempts were made using the hyperpronation method and the supination-flexion method. The physician then recorded whether the treatment was successful, the number of attempts, easiness of the reduction, and guardian's degree of understanding and satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were enrolled. The number of attempts was 1.27 and 1.35 times in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. The success rate was 96.6% in the experimental group and 94.7% in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference within the two groups. The physicians found that the revised method was as easy as the conventional method and the caregiver's degree of understanding was higher in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: As the revised method increases the degree of guardians' understanding and does not increase the difficulty of the procedure, we recommend using the revised method in treatment of radial head subluxation.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Caregivers , Diagnosis , Elbow , Fingers , Head , Methods , Parents , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Objective To explore the application of high frequency ultrasonography in the rapid diagnosis of irreducible radial head subluxation in children.Methods Twenty-three patients aged 1 to 5 with unilateral radial head subluxation in children were observed by high-frequency ultrasonography and radiography,and then compared the symptomatic to the contralateral side.Results No case of radial head subluxation was found by radiography.23 cases of radial head subluxation were found by high frequency ultrasonography,10 cases with articular cavity effusion.On the diagnosis of radial head subluxation in children,the sensitivity of high frequency ultrasonography was obviously higher than that of radiography.Conclusions The sensitivity of high frequency ultrasonography in the rapid diagnosis of the radial head subluxation in children is obviously higher than that of X ray film.High frequency ultrasonography through continuous scan can determine the continuity of anatomical structure and the relationship between some views to show the location of the specific structure relations.Specifically,it can be quickly and clearly diagnosed on anterior long-axis view and the lateral coronal view of radiohumeral joint.