Pediatric Monteggia Fracture-dislocations and Their Variants: An Analysis of Outcomes and Complications Over a 10-year Period

Objective: Monteggia fracture-dislocation variants have been well documented in adults, but most of the literature in the pediatric population is in the form of case reports. These injuries present differently in children due to the presence of immature radiocapitellar epiphyses and the flexibility of the joint that is more prone to subluxation, contributing to occult presentations and/or misdiagnoses. The purpose of this study is to investigate the outcomes and complications of true Monteggia fracture-dislocations compared with their variants in the pediatric population.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients 17 years of age and younger who sustained a true Monteggia fracture-dislocation or a Monteggia fracture-dislocation variant over a 10-year period. Patient demographics, mechanisms of injury, fracture pattern, Bado and Letts classification, treatment (operative or conservative), and complications were recorded.

Results: Of the 89 patients identified, 17 (19.1%) had true Monteggia fracture dislocations, and 72 (80.9%) had a Monteggia fracture-dislocation variant. The most common Monteggia fracture-dislocation variant was an olecranon fracture and concomitant radial neck fracture (65.3%, n = 47). Of the Monteggia fracture-dislocation variants, 83.3% (n = 60) were treated nonoperatively with closed reduction and immobilization or immobilization alone, whereas only 23.5% (n = 4) of the true Monteggia fracture-dislocation injuries were treated nonoperatively with closed reduction and immobilization. Overall, 14 (15.7%) patients had complications during the course of treatment, including 12 (16.7%) Monteggia fracture-dislocation variants and 2 (11.8%) true Monteggia fracture-dislocations. The most common complications were loss of range of motion (n = 6, 42.9%, all of which were nondisplaced variants), loss of reduction (n = 4, 28.6%, including 2 nondisplaced variants, 1 displaced variant, and 1 true Monteggia fracture dislocation), and malunion or nonunion (n = 2, 14.3%, both nondisplaced variants).

Conclusion: Pediatric Monteggia fracture-dislocation variants are much more common than true pediatric Monteggia fracture-dislocations. Monteggia fracture-dislocation variants have similar complication rates to true Monteggia fracture-dislocations overall, however, nondisplaced variants exhibited a higher complication rate when treated operatively. Further studies are warranted to assess specific fracture patterns and their associated treatments that result in varying complication rates.

Level of evidence: Level III-retrospective comparison study.