title: Three-dimensional analysis of acute plastic bowing deformity of ulna in radial head dislocation or radial shaft fracture using a computerized simulation system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little 3-dimensional biomechanical investigation of plastic bowing deformity of the ulna has been reported, and the purpose of this study was to conduct such an investigation to elucidate mechanisms of injury and appropriate treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten cases of traumatic plastic deformity of the ulna in pediatric patients, 4 with chronic radial head dislocations (Monteggia equivalent) and 6 with malunited radial shaft fractures, were analyzed for rotational deformities in the axial plane and bending deformities in the sagittal and coronal planes in Euler angle space by use of a 3-dimensional computerized simulation system with a markerless registration technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deformed ulnae with radial head dislocations had 18.7° ± 17.4° of external rotation in the axial plane and 10.4° ± 7.0° of extension in the sagittal plane whereas those with malunited radial shaft fractures had 12.5° ± 12.7° of internal rotation and 6.3° ± 5.6° of flexion displacement compared with mirror images of the opposite ulnae. Absolute values of rotational deformities in both groups were larger than those of sagittal and coronal bending deformities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most major traumatic plastic bowing deformities of the ulna involved rotation rather than bending. External rotational stress on the ulna is suspected to cause radial head dislocation, and internal rotational stress results in radial shaft fracture during falls onto outstretched arms. Therefore the correction of rotational deformities of the ulna should be considered in the treatment of chronic radial head dislocations and malunited radial shaft fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moritomo
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masatomi
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Kazuomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugamoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D017759:Fractures, Malunited / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult