Evaluation of Fresh and Subacute Monteggia Fracture

• Published in: Orthopedics & Traumatology Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 492 - 495
• Main Authors: Urasaki, Takashi, Kitashiro, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: West-Japanese Society of Orthopedics & Traumatology 2000
• Subjects: Monteggia fracture; Osteotomy; Radius head dislocation; Traumatic bowing of the ulna
• ISSN: 0037-1033; 1349-4333
• DOI: 10.5035/nishiseisai.49.492

We report two Monteggia fractures. Case 1 was an 8-year-old boy injured with Bado type 1 Monteggia fracture after falling off the balance beam. The dislocated radius head could not be reduced. Surgical exposure revealed interposition of the torn capsule. Open reduction and osteosynthesis of the ulna were performed. He regained stable elbow with full range of motion. Case 2 was an 11-year-old boy without previous injury around the elbow joint. He noticed pain and prominence of a bony mass at the anterior aspect of the elbow after throwing a dodge ball. On examination, neither swelling nor pain of the ulna were seen and the elbow joint showed valgus instability. X-ray showed the anterior dislocation of the hypertrophied radius head and traumatic bowing of the ulna. It was speculated that the anteriorly subluxated radius head by a previous traumatic bowing fell into complete dislocation by the traction of the biceps when throwing a ball. We performed an osteotomy of the ulna with bone graft. Although subluxation of the radius head remained because of insufficient osteotomy, bony prominence disappeared and he regained stable elbow with full range of motion of the elbow with full supination and 60 degrees pronation.