title: [Ulnar osteotomy and internal fixation for old anterior dislocation of radial head in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical results of ulnar osteotomy and internal fixation in treating old anterior dislocation of radial head in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  From Jan.2004 to Jan.2010, 18 patients with old anterior dislocation of radial head were treated with open reduction for radial head and ulnar osteotomy and internal fixation, including 12 males and 6 females with an average age of (6.9 +/- 1.3) years (3 to 15 years). Among them, 15 cases had history of external injury, from injury to operation was for 5-65 months with an average of (24.0 +/- 5.5) months. Limitation of activity occurred in all patients including flexion and extension of elbow joint and rotation of forearm, without radial nerve injury and obviously radial head deformation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All incisions obtained primary healing and no nonunion, re-dislocation of radial head and nerve injury were found. All patients were followed up from 9 to 38 months with an average of (17.0 +/- 4.5) months. Union time of fracture was from 2.3 to 3.9 months with an average of (2.8 +/- 0.5) months. Postoperative activity in flexion and extension of elbow joint and rotation of forearm improved significantly compared with preoperative. The clinical effects were evaluated according to Zhuyukui criteria, 14 patients got excellent results, 3 good, 1 fair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ulnar osteotomy and internal fixation in treating old anterior dislocation of radial head in children can obtain satisfactory results and effectively improve the activities in flexion and extension of elbow joint and rotation of forearm and prevent re-dislocation of radial head.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, the 175th Hospital of PLA, Southeast Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Traumatic Orthopaedics Center of PLA, Zhangzhou 363000, Fujian, China. czwen175@tom.com
authors.forename: Zhi-wen
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhen-qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wen-liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001860:Bone Plates; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014457:Ulna / Q000601:surgery*