Elbow Dislocation in Children: About Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Background: Elbow dislocations in pediatric patients are rare injuries. This is a therapeutic emergency because a delay in treatment can have disastrous consequences on the functional level of the upper limb. Objective: To present the management of elbow dislocation in children in cases of limited resources. Presentation of the Cases: These were 2 older male children aged 7 and 9 years old, admitted to the emergency room for painful functional impotence of the right elbow after a fall and landing on the right hand. Clinical and radiological examinations were in favor of posterior elbow dislocations. The reductions were carried out under sedation and immobilization in Jersey. According to Robert’s criteria, the functional result was excellent in both patients. Conclusion: Emergency reduction and immobilization whatever the means ensure an excellent functional prognosis even in cases of limited resources.

Effect of elbow position on radiographic measurements of radio-capitellar alignment

AIM:To evaluate the effect of different elbow and forearm positions on radiocapitellar alignment.METHODS:Fifty-one healthy volunteers were recruited and bilateral elbow radiographs were taken to form a radiologic database.Lateral elbow radiographs were taken with the elbow in five different positions:Maximal extension and forearm in neutral,maximal flexion and forearm in neutral,elbow at 90° and forearm in neutral,elbow at 90° and forearm in supination and elbow at 90° and forearm in pronation.A goniometer was used to verify the accuracy of the elbow's position for the radiographs at a 90° angle.The radiocapitellar ratio(RCR)measurements were then taken on the collected radiographs using the Slice Omatic software.An orthopedic resident performed the radiographic measurements on the 102 elbows,for a total of 510 lateral elbow radiographic measures.ANOVA paired t-tests and Pearson coefficients were used to assess the differences and correlations between the RCR in each position.RESULTS:Mean RCR values were-2% ± 7%(maximal extension),-5% ± 9%(maximal flexion),and for elbow at 90° and forearm in neutral-2% ± 5%,supination 1% ± 6% and pronation 1% ± 5%.ANOVA analyses demonstrated significant differences between the RCRin different elbow and forearm positions.Paired t-tests confirmed significant differences between the RCR at maximal flexion and flexion at 90°,and maximal extension and flexion.The Pearson coefficient showed significant correlations between the RCR with the elbow at 90°-maximal flexion;the forearm in neutralsupination;the forearm in neutral-pronation.CONCLUSION:Overall,95% of the RCR values are included in the normal range(obtained at 90° of flexion)and a value outside this range,in any position,should raise suspicion for instability.

An unusual Monteggia equivalent type 1 lesion： Diaphyseal ulna and radius fractures with a posterior elbow dislocation in a child

In this report, we describe an extremely unusual Monteggia equivalent type 1 lesion in a 10-year-old boy following a fall from a height of I m. On the plain radiographs, our patient had a particular Monteggia equivalent type 1 injury associating a posterior elbow dislocation with diaphyseal radius and ulna fractures. The patient was treated by closed reduction technique. At six months of follow-up, the frac- tures were consolidated and the elbow was stable. To our knowledge, only 8 adult cases and one pae- diatric observation with similar lesions had been reported through medical literature. Therefore, the aim of our case report is to remind this rare entity and also to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to this uncommon lesion.