Chronic radial head dislocation in children after trauma is a serious condition. Often the dislocation is overseen initially and is a part of the Monteggia fracture complex with anterior bowing of the ulna. Typical complaints are pain, decreased ROM and cubitus valgus. Radial head dysplasia often occurs. The treatment of this condition is debated. Only few series of patients treated with open reduction and ulnar osteotomy exists with long-term follow up. We present a group of rare patients with long-time follow-up treated by only two surgeons through a period of 16 years. All 16 patients had anterior radial head dislocation (Bado type 1). Mean age at the time of traumatic dislocation was 6 years ranging from 2 to 9. We found a mean delay of 17 (range 1–83) months before open reduction and ulnar open wedge osteotomy. In 8 cases reconstruction of the annular ligament was performed and in 6 patients temporary transarticular fixation of the radial head with a k-wire was performed. Follow-up time was 8 (range 3–17) years postoperatively. Patients were investigated with bilateral x-ray, arthrosis status, congruency of the radiocapitellar joint, Oxford Elbow Score, force measurements and range of motion.Introduction
Materials and Methods
