Clinical effect of manual reduction of humeroradial joint in the treatment of typeⅠ-Ⅲfresh Monteggia fracture in children

Purpose:To evaluate the efficacy of closed reduction on the humeroradial joint in the treatment of Bado typeⅠ,ⅡandⅢfresh Monteggia fractures in children and investigate the effect of clinical factors,including Bado classification,age and time of treatment on the success rate of closed reduction.Methods:We retrospectively studied the data of children<10 years old with fresh Monteggia fractures(injury within two weeks)treated by manual reduction with plaster immobilization from January 2014 to April 2019.All patients were followed up in the outpatient department every two weeks for 4-6 weeks until plaster removal and then 3,6 and 12 months.Online or telephone interview was provided for some inconvenient patients after 6 months.Mackay criteria were used to evaluate the clinical effect.Radiographic data were collected and reviewed to assess the reduction of the humeroradial joint.Function of the elbow joint and forearm was evaluated and risk factors related to the failure of reduction were assessed.The successful manual reduction was analyzed from three aspects,respectively Bado fracture type(Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ),patient age(<3 year,3-6 years,>6 years)and time interval from injury to treatment(group A,<1 day;group B,1-3 days;group C,>3 days).Results:Altogether 88 patients were employed in this study,including 58 males(65.9%)and 30 females(34.1%)aged from 1 to 10 years.There were 29 cases(33.0%)of Bado typeⅠMonteggia fractures,16(18.2%)typeⅡand 43(48.7%)typeⅢ.Successful manual reduction was achieved in 79 children(89.8%)at the last follow-up.The failed 9 patients received open surgery.Mackay criteria showed 100%goodexcellent rate for all the patients.The success rate of manual reduction was 89.7%,87.5%and 90.7%in Bado typeⅠ,ⅡandⅢcases,respectively,revealing no significant differences among different Bado types(x2=0.131,p=0.937).Successful closed reduction was achieved in 13 toddlers(13/13,100%),38 preschool children(28/42,90.5%)and 28 school-age children(28/33,84.8%),suggesting no significant difference either(x2=2.375,p=0.305).However time interval from injury to treatment showed that patients treated within 3 days had a much higher rate of successful manual reduction:67 cases(67/71,94.4%)in group A,10 cases(10/11,90.9%)in group B,and 2 cases(2/6,33.3%)in group C(x2=22.464,p<0.001).Fisher's test further showed significant differences between groups A and C(p=0.001)and groups B and C(p=0.028).Conclusion:Closed reduction is a safe and effective method for treating fresh Monteggia fractures in children.The reduction should be conducted as soon as possible once the diagnosis has been made.

Percutaneous fixation of neonatal humeral physeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Neonatal distal humeral physeal fractures are rare and difficult to diagnose.Thus,missed diagnoses and delayed healing are possible.Few studies have reported surgical treatment,because a callus may develop at the fracture site 5 d after the fracture,resulting in difficult reduction,and reduction of the limb may cause further physeal injury.Other surgical challenges include the provision of adequate anesthesia and complexity of the operation.However,without appropriate reduction and fixation,a varus elbow deformity may develop.Manual reduction and percutaneous pin fixation are ideal treatment options.CASE SUMMARY A 4-day-old neonate with left elbow pain accompanied by limited movement for 4 d was admitted,and diagnosed with delayed physeal fracture of the distal humerus based on physical examination,ultrasonography,and magnetic resonance imaging.The patient was treated by manual reduction combined with percutaneous pin fixation under arthrography.Postoperatively,the reduction was successful.The upper limbs could have been lifted and the fingers could have been moved freely on the second day after the operation.CONCLUSION The techniques of manual reduction and percutaneous pin fixation,to treat neonatal distal humeral physeal fractures,are safe and reliable.

Vertical locking of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the little finger： A case report

Locking of the metacarpophalangeal （MCP） joint is commonly caused by hyperextension of the thumb or moderate flexion of the index or middle finger. We report a rare case of vertical locking of the MCP joint of the little finger in a 16-year old female after blunt trauma to the little finger. The MCP joint was locked when positioned at approximately 90-degree-flexion and could not extend actively or passively. A manual reduction was easily achieved and no immobilization was applied. Vertical locking of the MCP joint can be easily reduced, and immobilization is unnecessary after reduction. Correct diagnosis prior to reduction and differentiation from other types of locking are essential to prevent overtreatment.