title: Mid- to long-term outcomes after surgical treatment of chronic anterior dislocation of the radial head in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the mid- to long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after surgical treatment of chronic anterior dislocation of the radial head in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open reduction was performed in 16 children (mean age, 9.3 years [range, 2.6-13.6 years]) with chronic anterior dislocation of the radial head. Twelve patients had a history of preceding injuries, with a mean interval between injury and surgery of 24 months (range, 2-86 months); 4 patients did not have injuries. Eight patients who had undergone reduction within 16 months were treated by open reduction and ulnar osteotomy. The other 8 patients who had not sustained trauma or had been injured >2 years previously required either annular ligament reconstruction or radial shortening in addition to ulnar osteotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average preoperative Kim's elbow performance score was 77.2 ± 10.5, which significantly improved to 97.5 ± 5.8 at the final follow-up. The radial head was maintained in a reduced position in 14 patients and was subluxed in 2. Slight osteoarthritic changes of the elbow were observed in 2 patients with good reduction. The functional results were excellent in 15 and were good in 1 patient with an average follow-up of 6.5 years (range, 2.6-15.1 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our surgical procedure provided good mid- to long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes.
authors: Department of Hand Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan. Electronic address: hand_surgery1966@yahoo.co.jp.
authors: Takaaki
authors: T
authors: Shinohara
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya First Red Cross Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Emiko
authors: E
authors: Horii
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya First Red Cross Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Shukuki
authors: S
authors: Koh
authors: Department of Hand Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Fujihara
authors: Department of Hand Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Hirata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014457:Ulna / Q000601:surgery; D000092464:Elbow Injuries