Missed Monteggia fractures in children: pathological mechanism and surgical treatment / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the outcomes of missed Monteggia fractures in children treated with ulnar angulation-distraction osteotomy and plate fixation or external fixation.Methods Nineteen patients,including 11 boys and 8 girls who presented with missed Monteggia fracture,were reviewed from July 2005 to June 2011.Twelve children (Group A) were treated with ulna angulation osteotomy and plate fixation,and 7 eases(Group B) with ulna angulation-distraction osteotomy and external fixator.Thirteen patients were classified as type Bado Ⅰ,and six as type Bado Ⅲ.The age,the delay from injury to surgery,complications,elbow and forearm function,and the healing time of the osteotomy were compared.ResultsAll 19 patients were followed up.The duration of missed dislocation was from 6 to 36 months (mean,10 months).Redislocation of the radiocapitellar joint occurred after surgery in one case in group A.Forearm compartment syndrome occurred in one case after surgery in group B.All patients,except one,regained full elbow flexion in group A and B,various forearm pronation limitation were noted in all patients (mean,15°).The average healing of osteotomy of group A and B was 8 weeks(6-15 weeks) and 22 weeks (10-44 weeks).ConclusionThe ulnar angulation-distraction osteotomy could correct the ulnar deformity in children of missed Monteggia fractures,which is the key issue to be corrected.Both of the fixation strategies can obtain the same treatment results.Preoperative assessment is most important,plate internal fixation was recommended for young age and short delay cases,on the contrary,we prefer to choose external fixator.