Chronic monteggia fracture-dislocation in children surgical strategy and results

Abstract

Objective: To report surgical techniques and results in the treatment of chronic Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children. Methods: Six pediatric patients who had undergone a procedure involving the following 6 crucial surgical steps were retrospectively evaluated: 1- extended lateral approach, 2- fibrotic removal, 3-proximal ulnar osteotomy, 4- reduction of the radial head and transcapitellar temporary fixation, 5- ulnar fixation with a straight plate shaped according to the deformity generated by temporary fixation, and 6- transcapitellar Kirschner wire removal. Results: Four patients were women, and four showed the right-sided compromise. The mean age of patients was 8 years, and the minimum follow-up period was 12 months. The mean time from the onset of fracture to treatment was 6 months. Six patients underwent complete flexo/extension, and one patient had a complete prono-supination. In four patients, we observed loss of pronation (by 10° in two, 15° in one, and 20° in one), and one patient had a 15° decrease in supination. We did not observe any redislocation of the radial head in the follow-up evaluation. No complications were observed; the only complaint was salience of the ulnar plate. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated an effective option for the treatment of chronic Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children, even with a small study sample, following the presented technical and surgical strategies.