Ulnar osteotomy and the ilizarov mini-fixator for pediatric chronic monteggia fracture-dislocations

Treatment of chronic Monteggia fracture-dislocations remains controversial in skeletally immature patients. The present study aimed to review the clinical outcomes of surgical treatment with an Ilizarov mini-fixator for chronic Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children. From April 2003 to March 2014, 5 pediatric patients (4 males, 1 female) with chronic Monteggia fracture-dislocation were treated with an Ilizarov mini-fixator at our institution. The median age at the time of surgery was 9 years (range 5–14 years), median duration from injury to surgery was 31 months (range 2–125 months), and median duration of follow-up was 12 months (range 11 months–10 years). All patients underwent opening wedge osteotomy of the proximal ulna followed by the application of an Ilizarov mini-fixator. Although closed reduction was attempted after ulnar osteotomy and application of the Ilizarov mini-fixator, open reduction of the radial head was required in all patients. In 4 patients, dense scar tissue in the radiocapitellar joint was excised to enable reduction of the radial head; the remaining patient had traumatic radioulnar synostosis, and underwent separation of the synostosis followed by anconeus interposition arthroplasty. No patient received bone grafting at the ulnar osteotomy site, repair or reconstruction of the annular ligament, or temporary fixation of the radial head with transarticular wire. The median period of external fixation was 10 weeks (range 8–13 weeks). Although there were no severe complications such as deep infection and neurovascular disturbance, asymptomatic radial head subluxation occurred in 2 patients. The patient with traumatic synostosis had residual posterior subluxation with limitation of forearm rotation, and another patient with radial head enlargement had residual anterior subluxation. The median postoperative ranges of motion in pronation, supination, extension, and flexion were 90°, 90°, 0°, and 140°, respectively. The median Kim's elbow performance score was 65 (range 50–75) preoperatively, which improved to 94 (range 80–100) at final follow-up. The outcome was rated as excellent in 4 cases, and good in 1. In pediatric chronic Monteggia fracture-dislocations, ulnar osteotomy followed by the application of an Ilizarov mini-fixator is a viable option that is less invasive than plate fixation.