Case study

Unusual patterns of Monteggia fracture-dislocation

Constantinos J Kazakos¹ , Vasilios G Galanis¹ , Dennis-Alexander J Verettas¹ , Alexandra Dimitrakopoulou¹ , Alexandros Polychronidis² and Constantinos Simopoulos²

¹  Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

²  Second Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2006, 1:12doi:10.1186/1749-799X-1-12

Published:	3 November 2006

Abstract

Background

High-energy trauma may result in uncommon open injuries around the elbow joint. The management of these injuries can be difficult.

Case description

Fourteen patients were treated between 1999 and 2003 and their injuries consisted of Monteggia fracture-dislocations combined with segmental fractures of the ulna or fractures of the forearm bones and/or various more complex trauma such as neural injuries, bone comminution and severe soft tissue injuries around the elbow. Eight of them (57%) were multiply injured with severe additional injuries. All patients underwent surgery within first 4–6 hours. Internal fixation, external fixation or a combination of both methods were used to stabilize fractures while open wounds had secondary closure.

Results

Additional operations were required in 6 patients. The functional results according to the Mayo Elbow Performance Index were excellent or good in eleven patients, and fair or poor in the remaining three. The patients with fair and poor results had suffered from severe neural and soft tissue trauma and/or multiple fractures of the upper extremity.

Conclusion

These injuries should be treated as an emergency. The surgeon should apply any available method that can provide stability to the bone fragments and safe handling of the soft tissues giving priority to internal fixation of the fractures. Severe osseous, soft tissue and neural trauma affect the functional results of the elbow region.