Abstract
Whether or not dislocation of the radial head should be reduced is difficult to determine in the treatment of old Monteggia fractures in children. The subjects were 8 patients (6 boys and 2 girls) who underwent open reduction of the radial head. Patient's age at the time of the operation ranged from 2 to 10 years. The period from injury until the operation ranged from 30 days to 1300 days. Surgical procedures were as follows; open reduction in 3 cases and osteotomy of the ulna in 5 cases. Results were evaluated regarding pain, ROM and X-ray findings, as well as ADL evaluation. No patients complained of pain, but some complained of limitations of the forearm pronation. Osteoarthritis of the humero-radial joint was found in 3 patients. Poor results were obtained in patients whose radial heads were left in the dislocated position for long periods before the operation, or those that failed to be reduced in the correct position during the operation.
