Background: Chronic Monteggia lesions in children may cause pain, deformity, decreased range of motion, and neurological symptoms. Numerous surgical techniques have been advocated to reconstruct long-standing Monteggia injures in efforts to maximize long-term upper limb function. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the clinical and radiographic results of a modified surgical technique for missed Monteggia fracture-dislocations.
Methods: A retrospective evaluation of 52 patients who underwent surgical reconstruction of missed Monteggia fracture-dislocations at a tertiary pediatric hospital was performed. The median patient age at the time of surgery was 6.8 years, and the median time from injury to surgery was 12.9 weeks. Electronic medical records, including clinic notes, radiographic images, and operative reports, were reviewed for study analysis. Median clinical and radiographic follow-up was 19.1 months.
Results: The median elbow range of motion improved from 108 degrees of flexion and 5 degrees short of full extension preoperatively to 140 degrees of flexion (P<0.001) and full extension (P=0.10) postoperatively. Forearm range of motion also improved from a median of 80 degrees of pronation and 58 degrees of supination preoperatively to 80 degrees of pronation (P=0.54) and 80 degrees of supination (P<0.001) postoperatively. Congruent radiocapitellar alignment was maintained in 39 patients (75%). Nine patients (17%) had redislocation of the radiocapitellar joint, and 4 patients (8%) had radiographic resubluxation. Six of the 9 patients who experienced redislocation underwent early revision and achieved uncomplicated longer term results. Patients who received repair of the native annular ligament were more likely to achieve lasting radiocapitellar joint stability (P=0.03) when compared with patients who received annular ligament reconstruction or if the annular ligament was not addressed.
Conclusion: Meaningful improvements in elbow motion and radiocapitellar stability can be safely achieved in the majority of children following surgical reconstruction of missed Monteggia lesions.
Level of evidence: Level IV-retrospective case series.