Introduction In general, the management of type I fractures is well understood and accepted. Controversy does surround the type II and type III fracture due to increased complexity from treatment of associated injuries. Our treatment logic is described in Chapter…
Introduction Surgical treatment of displaced radial head fractures has evolved from excision of fracture fragments or the entire head of the radius, to several techniques of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), and modern types of radial head replacement. The…
Introduction Historical Review The first description of a radial head fracture may be attributed to Beard, who, in 1834, noted the presence of this injury at autopsy. By 1880, Bruns found 21 cases in the literature, but only one of…
Introduction Injury to the elbow joint may cause damage to the stabilizing elements such as bony structures or ligaments. Profound knowledge of these stabilizing elements is the basis of adequate treatment and success to restore a stable and functioning elbow…
Introduction The term simple elbow dislocation is applied to those injuries resulting in loss of congruity between the distal humerus and the proximal forearm (ulna and radius) without associated bony injuries. The structures disrupted include the elbow capsule, lateral collateral…
Introduction Elbow trauma is one of the most common types of injury in the pediatric and adolescent population. While treating elbow injuries, the orthopedist may also be faced with managing a posttraumatic elbow contracture. Elbow stiffness after injury is less…
Introduction Osteochondral lesions may be the source of elbow pain, swelling, and loss of motion in children or adolescents. The typical presentation is an adolescent gymnast or overhead throwing athlete (e.g., baseball pitcher). The dominant arm is usually involved but…
Introduction The development and maturation of the elbow is complex in children. Many cartilaginous structures are incompletely ossified until late in skeletal development and are weaker in tensile strength in comparison to the surrounding ligamentous and muscular attachments. Thus, isolated…
Introduction Fractures of the proximal ulna are thought to be relatively uncommon in children, accounting for approximately 5% of elbow fractures. The true incidence may be higher because many are missed. Monteggia fractures may be undiagnosed 50% of the time,…
Introduction Pediatric fractures of the proximal radius account for 1% of all fractures in children and 4% to 10% of pediatric elbow injuries. These injuries are more likely to occur at the radial neck because of the biomechanically weaker physis…