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Pediatric Monteggia Fractures

7/13/2015

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HPI:
5 year old female presents with right arm pain after falling on a chair. Her arm was pinned in between the chair and the floor. She had immediate pain but it resolved. The following day she has increased pain and swelling in the right arm.

EXAM:
Swelling is noted in the proximal forearm. Tenderness to palpation present on the proximal ulna as well as radial head. No tenderness to the medial condyle, lateral condyle, or olecranon. Passive and active range of motion of the elbow is full but painful. No motor or sensory deficits of the hand.

IMAGING.
AP and lateral views of the elbow. 
Picture
Picture
Note there is plastic deformation of the ulna without a complete fracture
Always assess the radial head, it should point towards the capitulum

MANAGEMENT
#Non-operative
- Closed reduction of ulna and radial head dislocation and long arm casting
- If no ortho available, attempt to reduce radial head and place in a posterior splint. 
- Axial traction traction to restore ulnar length
- Need to successfully reduce radial head dislocation as well
- Immobilize in 110 degrees flexion and full supination.

#Operative
- Indicated if radial head or ulnar length are unstable following reduction
- Indicated in Bado Type IV fractures (complete fx of Ulna and Radius)
- Frequently required in missed diagnosis.

DISCUSSION
- A Monteggia fracture is radial head dislocation plus a proximal ulna fracture or plastic deformation of the ulna
- Peak age range 4-10 years, fall onto pronated arm..
- Frequently missed since the ulna may only have plastic deformation, have a high suspicion if there is pain over the radial head or evidence of radial head dislocation.
- Complications include posterior interosseous nerve neurapraxia (finger drop, radial wrist deviation). 
- Loss of forearm motion with delayed treatment (2-3 weeks)
- Different classifications are present (Bado) but not as key as recognizing the fracture.
- This patient was casted and follow up arranged.

KEY POINTS
- Have a high index of suspicion when there is radial head tenderness or dislocation
- Ulna may show only plastic deformation
- Radial head should always point towards the capitulum
- Obtain contralateral arm films if comparison is needed.
- ED management without ortho includes reduction with posterior splint placement. Close f/u. 
- Majority of cases result in non-operative management.
- Frequently missed

By Dr. Mohamed El-Kara

REFERENCES
http://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4015/monteggia-fracture--pediatric
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/415822-overview#a5

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Bimalleolar Equivalent Ankle Fracture-Dislocation

3/8/2015

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HPI:  Middle age male who presents with left ankle pain, swelling, and deformity s/p fall down stairs. Unable to bear weight to LLE.

Physical Exam: obvious deformity, edema, ecchymosis to L ankle. TTP over medial and lateral malleolus. Unable to flex and extend at ankle 2/2 pain. DP/PT 2+. Normal sensation to light touch to dorsal surface/plantar surface/1st web space.

IMAGING:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Diagnosis and Management:  This patient has a Weber B distal fibula fracture with medial subluxation of the tibia and disruption of the mortise joint. Combination of distal fibula fracture and likely complete disruption of deltoid ligament is a bimalleolar fracture-dislocation equivalent.  Thus, this is an UNSTABLE ANKLE!

Patient’s ankle was reduced using axial traction and inversion, placed in posterior sugar tong splint. Injury required 3 reductions, which is common due to the instability of this injury. Patient was admitted to Orthopedic Trauma service and scheduled for next day ORIF. 

Pearls: The key area to focus on imaging for this type of injury is the medial malleoulous - talar joint space (see green area on above figure). There is some debate in the orthopedic literature, but if the joint space is separated by more than 3-5mm, stress films OR treating the injury as a bimalleolar equivalent fracture/dislocation is indicated. 

Picture
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Syndesmotic injuries....AKA High Ankle Sprains:

12/22/2014

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HPI: Middle-aged male s/p MCC.

PE:  Ecchymoses, swelling, and tenderness about ankle. Tender over proximal fibula and pain with squeezing of calf.

Figure 1: Mortise view of ankle showing widened mortise medially

Picture

Figure 2:  Leg film showing proximal fibular fracture

Picture
Ankle Sprains:
-        Divided into grades
o   I: Minor, no significant ligamentous damage. Able to bear weight.
o   II: Associated with partial ligamentous tear. Significant ecchymoses/swelling. Difficulty bearing weight.
o   III:  Associated with complete ligamentous tear. Significant functional loss and universal inability to bear weight.

-        When should we obtain radiographs?:
o   If pretest clinical suspicion is high based on mechanism of injury or patient cannot be ruled out for fracture based on Ottawa ankle rules:

Picture
Syndesmotic injuries (AKA “high” ankle sprains):
o   PE and mechanism:
  • Physical exam may have tenderness with calf squeeze, pain in syndesmosis with external rotation and dorsiflexion of foot, and translation of fibula with anterior/posterior force.
  • If mechanism of injury involves hyper-dorsiflexion or significant eversion of the ankle, and patient has tenderness of the medial malleolus, a maisonneuve fracture (proximal fibular fracture associated with syndesmotic tear and deep deltoid ligament rupture) should be suspected. Order both ankle films as well as tib/fib films.  As in patient above, Ankle film may show widened mortise, indicating joint instability.

o   Treatment:
  • Non-operative: Patient may be made NWB and placed in a boot, short-leg cast, or posterior short-leg splint + sugar tong splint. 
  • Indications for non-op management:
                  -   Syndesmotic sprain without diastasis or ankle instability
                  -   Otherwise patient needs syndesmotic screw fixation. Patient can be immobilized and follow-up as an outpatient for surgical fixation

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radial nerve palsy

11/13/2014

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HPI:  Patient presents with a grossly deformed right upper extremity.

PE:  Gross deformity of humerus, no open fracture.  Unable to extend wrist. Unable to hyper-extend MP joints of fingers and unable to flex IP joint of thumb.  Radial and ulnar pulses intact.

IMAGING:  Multi-factorial fracture along the mid third of humerus along the expected course of the radial nerve.

DISPO (if at free standing ED):  Transfer patient to ED with on-call orthopedics for definitive fixation.  Reduce and splint prior to transfer.

TREATMENT:  Nonoperative managment.  Splinted and cast at bedside.  Follow radial nerve palsy clinically for improvement.
Picture
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    (for learning purposes, imagine all cases present to a free standing ED for dispo and treatment options)

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    Disclaimer: All images and x-rays included on this blog are the sole property of CMC EM Residency and cannot be used or reproduced without written permission.  Patient identifiers have been redacted/changed or patient consent has been obtained.  Information contained in this blog is the opinion of the author and application of material contained in this blog is at the discretion of the practitioner to verify for accuracy.
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  • RESIDENCY
    • About CMC
    • Curriculum
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    • Explore Charlotte
    • Official Site
  • FELLOWSHIP
    • EMS
    • Global EM
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    • (All Others)
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    • Program Leadership
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  • STUDENTS/APPLICANTS
    • Medical Students at CMC
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  • #FOAMed
    • EM GuideWire
    • CMC Imaging Mastery
    • Pediatric EM Morsels
    • Blogs, etc. >
      • CMC ECG Masters
      • Core Concepts
      • Cardiology Blog
      • Dr. Patel's Coding Blog
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