Pediatric Anterior Transolecranon Fracture-Dislocation of the Elbow: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

A five-year-old female child came to us with complaints of pain, swelling and deformity of the left elbow following fall on flexed elbow. Radiographs showed an anterior transolecranon-fracture dislocation of the elbow. After an unsuccessful attempt at closed reduction, open reduction and internal fixation with a tension band construct using two 1.5 mm Kirschner wires and a 20-gauze stainless steel (SS) wire was done. Active assisted mobilisation was started 2 weeks postoperatively. At 2 months after the surgery, the child had regained unrestricted and painless elbow movements. All the wires were removed at 6 months. Anterior transolecranon-fracture dislocation of the elbow is an extremely rare entity with only 11 cases reported till date, none being from India. We, hereby, report new observation, discuss the mechanism of injury and management protocol for such cases, and highlight the causes of under-reporting and importance of early intervention and mobilisation.