- Case report
- Open access
- Published:
Use of intra-medullary stacked nailing in the reduction of proximal plastic deformity in a pediatric Monteggia fracture: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports volume 5, Article number: 153 (2011)
Abstract
Introduction
In a Monteggia fracture dislocation, it is important to reduce the ulnar fracture completely. Extensive plastic deformation of the proximal ulna may make reduction by closed manipulation impossible.
Case presentation
We report the case of a four-year-old Caucasian boy in whom the plastic deformation of the proximal ulna was reduced, and this reduction was maintained, using intra-medullary stacked nailing.
Conclusion
The technique of stacked nailing is a useful addition to the armamentarium in the management of the potentially awkward Monteggia fracture.
Introduction
A Monteggia fracture is a fracture of the ulna associated with a radio-capitellar dislocation [1, 2]. Pediatric Monteggia injuries, in contrast to those of adults, are usually managed effectively by closed reduction [1]. In a recent one-year series of forearm fractures in Glasgow, Monteggia fracture dislocations accounted for only a minority of injuries (4 ex 317) [3]. Though uncommon, it is vital to recognize the radio-capitellar dissociation early. The ulnar fracture is usually apparent on clinical and radiological assessment, but up to 50% of radio-capitellar dissociations are missed by senior house officers and 25% are not recognized by senior radiologists [4]. In our center, a review of Monteggia fracture dislocations between 1992 and 2001 showed that about 20% (eight of 39) were initially missed [5]. Adequate treatment is important for achieving good results and to avoid secondary corrective surgery, as missed Monteggia lesions or chronic radial head dislocations may require later reconstruction, which is fraught with potential complications [6].
The current classification of the Monteggia lesion proposed by Bado [2] is widely accepted as standard for adult lesions. The classification scheme of Letts et al. [7] for pediatric Monteggia fractures emphasizes the character of the ulnar fracture: A = anterior bend, B = anterior greenstick, C = anterior complete, D = posterior and E = lateral. A stable anatomic reduction of the ulnar fracture usually results in reduction of the radial head [8]. Of the options for the Monteggia fracture dislocation in children, the most common is a manipulative reduction with long-arm cast immobilization in elbow flexion. When the fracture dislocation is unstable or becomes displaced, open reduction and/or internal fixation may be indicated [9–11]. Ring et al. [8] also emphasized the importance of the type of ulnar fracture and that plastic deformation of the ulna must be reduced.
De la Garza [12] alluded to the technique of using multiple pins, nesting them within the medullary canal to stabilize the ulna. Ulnar intra-medullary wires can also be used to treat complete transverse and short oblique fractures to prevent angular deformity. These procedures can be done either via an antegrade approach by passing the intra-medullary nail through the olecranon or by using a retrograde approach through the distal ulnar metaphysis. However, if the ulnar fracture is comminuted or has a long, oblique pattern, plate and screw fixation may be required. There may also be a need to remove interposed soft tissue or bony fragments to allow for radial head reduction [10].
Thus it is important to reduce the ulnar fracture, but in patients with extensive proximal plastic deformity, this may prove impossible by manipulation alone. Here we present a case involving the use of a technique that allows for closed reduction and stabilization.
Case presentation
A four-year-old Caucasian boy with no medical history presented to our emergency department with a right forearm fracture after falling out of a tree. His neurovasculature was intact. Radiography showed a fracture of the proximal ulnar metaphysis with marked varus angulation and dislocation of the radial head both anteriorly and laterally (Figure 1), a combined Bado [2] types I and III Monteggia fracture dislocation. There was no associated distal fracture.
A closed reduction was attempted on the following day in the surgical theater, but the proximal ulnar fracture was irreducible by manipulation. Therefore, a percutaneous technique using intra-medullary diaphyseal wiring was performed (Figure 2). Initially, a 1 cm incision over the olecranon served as an entry point for two antegrade K-wires into the proximal fragment. These were used as a joystick to reduce the plastic bow of the ulna and were then advanced down the medulla (Figure 3). A third K-wire was inserted in a similar fashion, resulting in a tight intra-medullary fit that reduced the ulna and the radio-capitellar joint concomitantly (Figure 4). A plaster of Paris cast was applied to maintain the right forearm in mid-supination and 100° degree flexion.
Post-operatively, he attended weekly clinic appointments with serial radiographs confirming continued reduction (Figure 5). After the forearm had been immobilized for six weeks, the K-wires were removed with the boy under general anesthesia.
Conclusions
In our present case report, the problem was one of proximal ulnar bowing with substantial plastic deformity which was irreducible by manipulation alone. Two K-wires inserted longitudinally into the proximal fragment were used as a joystick to partially reduce the ulnar bowing, which was further reduced by passing the K-wires distally. A third K-wire was then added as a jam fit, as is done in the technique of bundle nailing with intra-medullary wires.
The technique described above is similar to that named after Hackethal [13] for his description of stacked nailing as applied to the humerus. Intra-medullary K-wire stabilization is technically easy and minimally invasive. Rabinovich et al. [14] suggested that nailing of the skeletally immature ulna can be safely accomplished via antegrade insertion through the olecranon apophysis. Although this approach was successful in our patient with combined Bado types I and III fractures, we have no experience in using this technique in other Bado type fractures (such as the rare type IV fracture, in which there is an associated radial shaft fracture). However, in accordance with the Letts et al. classification scheme [7], we suggest that it is largely the character of the ulnar fracture that determines the strategy for reduction and/or fixation; that is, whatever the direction of the radio-capitellar dislocation and whatever associated injuries there are, if there is proximal plastic deformity of the ulna that does not yield to manipulation, then this technique may be useful.
In conclusion, in the context of potentially problematic plastic deformation, we have extended the use of stacked nailing to perform both the reduction and stabilization of a pediatric Monteggia fracture dislocation.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient's parent for publication of this case report and the accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in Chief of this journal.
Abbreviations
- AP:
-
anteroposterior
- K-:
-
Kirschner
References
Rodgers WB, Waters PM, Hall JE: Chronic Monteggia lesions in children: complications and results of reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1996, 78: 1322-1329.
Bado JL: The Monteggia lesion. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1967, 50: 71-86. 10.1097/00003086-196701000-00008.
Bell SW, McLaughlin D, Huntley JS: Paediatric forearm fractures in the West of Scotland [Abstract 1857]. J Bone Joint Surg Br.
Gleeson AP, Beattie TF: Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children. J Accid Emerg Med. 1994, 11: 192-194.
David-West KS, Wilson NI, Sherlock DA, Bennet GC: Missed Monteggia injuries. Injury. 2005, 36: 1206-1209. 10.1016/j.injury.2004.12.033.
Nakamura K, Hirachi K, Uchiyama S, Takahara M, Minami A, Imaeda T, Kato H: Long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after open reduction for missed Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009, 91: 1394-1404. 10.2106/JBJS.H.00644.
Letts M, Locht R, Wiens J: Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1985, 67: 724-727.
Ring D, Jupiter JB, Waters PM: Monteggia fractures in children and adults. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1998, 6: 215-224.
Wilkins KE: Changes in the management of Monteggia fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2002, 22: 548-554. 10.1097/00004694-200207000-00025.
Pesl T, Havránek P: [Monteggia lesions in the growing skeleton: principles of therapy] [in Czech]. Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2010, 77: 32-38.
Güven M, Eren A, Kadioğlu B, Yavuz U, Kilinçoğlu V, Ozkan K: [The results of treatment in pediatric Monteggia equivalent lesions] [in Turkish]. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2008, 42: 90-96.
De la Garza JF: Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children. Rockwood and Wilkins' Fractures in Children. Edited by: Beaty JH, Kasser JR. 2006, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 491-541. 6
Hackethal KH: [Bundle nailing: a method of marrow nailing of long tubular bones] [in German]. Langenbecks Arch Klin Chir Ver Dtsch Z Chir. 1961, 298: 1001-1003. 10.1007/BF02435415.
Rabinovich A, Adili A, Mah J: Outcomes of intramedullary nail fixation through the olecranon apophysis in skeletally immature forearm fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2005, 25: 565-569. 10.1097/01.bpo.0000173249.04561.10.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
JL wrote the first draft and contributed to the revised manuscript. JH had the idea for the report, revised the manuscript extensively and is the guarantor. Both authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Authors’ original submitted files for images
Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.
Rights and permissions
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
About this article
Cite this article
Lim, J., Huntley, J.S. Use of intra-medullary stacked nailing in the reduction of proximal plastic deformity in a pediatric Monteggia fracture: a case report. J Med Case Reports 5, 153 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-153
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-153