Isolated Traumatic Radial Head Anterior Dislocation Treated with Open Reduction in Children

Whanyong Chung; Huiwan Park; Seungyong Sung

doi:10.4055/jkoa.2016.51.5.443

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Chung, Park, and Sung: Isolated Traumatic Radial Head Anterior Dislocation Treated with Open Reduction in Children

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association 2016; 51(5): 443-446.

Published online: 26 October 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2016.51.5.443

Isolated Traumatic Radial Head Anterior Dislocation Treated with Open Reduction in Children

Whanyong Chung, M.D., Huiwan Park, M.D., Seungyong Sung, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.

Correspondence to: Seungyong Sung, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, 25 Simgok-ro 100beon-gil, Seo-gu, Incheon 22711, Korea. TEL: +82-32-290-3919, FAX: +82-32-290-3879, sysung@hotmail.com

Received 19 October 2015 Revised 12 December 2015 Accepted 4 March 2016

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Isolated traumatic radial head anterior dislocation without associated injuries is uncommon in pediatric patients. If diagnosed on time, most cases can be reduced by closed reduction. In some cases, the radial head was found to be trapped between annular ligament, anterior joint capsule and a buttonhole tear of the brachialis muscle, preventing closed reduction. This is a very uncommon injury and the diagnosis can be overlooked. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl who sustained an irreducible isolated dislocation of the radial head which was reduced with open reduction.

Keywords: radial head, traumatic dislocation, open reduction

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Radiographs of the elbow show an antero-medially dislocated radial head.

Figure 2

(A) Intraoperative photo shows transbrachialis buttonholing of the radial head. (B) Intraoperative photo shows restoration of the radiocapitellar joint after release of the brachialis muscle and anterior capsule. (C, D) Postoperative radiographs of the elbow show the radial head in reduced position. BR, brachialis; AC, anterior capsule; RH, radial head; CP, capitellum.

Figure 3

Final follow-up radiographs of the elbow show the radial head in right position.

Notes

^{CONFLICTS OF INTEREST} The authors have nothing to disclose.

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