Clinical Study on Monteggia Fracture

Abstract

In 1814, Giovanni Battista Monteggia first described two cased of fracture of proximal third of ulna with a dislocation of radial head, and this combined injury is now known as the Monteggia fracture. Despite its rarity, the importance of early recognition of dislocated radial head and correct treatment has been emphasized. Eight cases of Monteggia fracture were studied from March, 1984 to June, 1987. The results are as follows 1. Male patients were six and female were two. 2. The frequent cause of injury was fall down in four cases. 3. Bado type I accounted for 50%, type II for 12.5% and type III for 37.5%. 4. The level of ulna fracture was above upper one third of ulna in seven. 5. The common direction of dislocated radial head was anterior. 6. Two children and two adults were managed by closed reduction. 7. The results (by Bruce et al. criteria) were 3 excellent, 2 good, 1 fair and 2 poor. Four ulna fractures in adult were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using a semitubular plate.