Clinical and radiological evaluation of radial neck factures in children and adolescents treated by percutaneous leverage reduction with Kirschner wire stabilization

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of surgical treatment of radial neck fractures in children and adolescents by percutaneous leverage with Kirschner wire stabilization.

METHODS

A retrospective clinical and radiographical evaluation was performed on a cohort of 61 patients (mean age 9.7 years; range 3 to 15) with isolated, unilateral radial neck fractures treated between 2009 and 2019. The mean duration of follow-up was 4.2 years (range 2 to 9 years). All fractures were types III and IV according to Judet's classification.

RESULTS

After mean follow-up, the radiographic results according to Metaizeau were rated as excellent in 70.5% of respondents, good in 27.9%, satisfactory in 1.6%. According to Mayo Elbow Performance Score, 95.1% of respondents obtained a very good result, 3.3% good, and 1.6% satisfactory. The mean radial neck-shaft angle changed from a mean 51.5° before operation to 3.8° postoperatively (p<0.001). The mean translation was 3.1mm before surgery and 0.5mm postoperatively (p<0.001). No limb axis deviation, elbow joint instability, and infection of the implant insertion site were observed. No statistically significant differences were noted between girls and boys (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that percutaneous leverage with Kirschner wire stabilization is an effective and safe method for treating isolated radial neck fractures, characterized by a low risk of iatrogenic complications.

Diagnosis, treatment and complications of radial head and neck fractures in the pediatric patient

Radial head and neck fractures represent up to 14% of all pediatric elbow fractures and can be a difficult challenge in the pediatric patient. In up to 39% of proximal radius fractures, there is a concomitant fracture, which can easily be overlooked on the initial standard radiographs. The treatment options for proximal radius fractures in children range from non-surgical treatment, such as immobilization alone and closed reduction followed by immobilization, to more invasive options, including closed reduction with percutaneous pinning and open reduction with internal fixation. The choice of treatment depends on the degree of angulation and displacement of the fracture and the age of the patient; an angulation of less than 30 degrees and translation of less than 50% is generally accepted, whereas a higher degree of displacement is considered an indication for surgical intervention. Fractures with limited displacement and non-surgical treatment generally result in superior outcomes in terms of patient-reported outcome measures, range of motion and complications compared to severely displaced fractures requiring surgical intervention. With proper management, good to excellent results are achieved in most cases, and long-term sequelae are rare. However, severe complications do occur, including radio-ulnar synostosis, osteonecrosis, rotational impairment, and premature physeal closure with a malformation of the radial head as a result, especially after more invasive procedures. Adequate follow-up is therefore warranted.

Impinging exostoses of the proximal radius: a report of two cases with distinct clinical features

Owing to the rotatory motion of proximal radius and the closely apposed anatomic structures, cortically based osseous lesions at the level of the proximal forearm may produce symptomatic impingement. While osseous impingement onto the adjacent proximal ulna may result in limited forearm rotation, impingement on the surrounding soft-tissue structures may produce symptoms as well. Here, we describe two cases of symptomatic proximal radius exostosis, each of which produced distinct clinical symptoms. In the first case, impingement on the posterior interosseous nerve produced symptoms of radiating forearm pain and paresthesia resembling radial tunnel syndrome. In the second case, impingement of the exostosis on the distal biceps tendon resulted in painful mechanical snapping with rotation of the forearm. In both cases, symptoms rapidly improved after surgical excision.

Giant-cell tumour of proximal radius in a 50-year-old female with wrist drop: a rare case report

Giant-cell tumour is a locally aggressive tumour of long bones of epiphyseal region commonly occurring in adults aged 20-40 years. Most common location is distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal radius. Different treatment options being used are curettage with bone graft or bone cement, resection with arthrodesis, reconstruction, radiation, and chemotherapy. We are reporting a case of giant-cell tumour of right proximal radius in a 50-year-old female with posterior interosseous nerve palsy. It is very rare, and only four cases have been reported in the literature. It was treated by wide margin resection with fibular grafting, titanium elastic nail system along with cancellous bone graft reconstruction.

Radial shortening osteotomy reduces radiocapitellar contact pressures while preserving valgus stability of the elbow

PURPOSE

Shortening osteotomy of the proximal radius might represent a potential salvage procedure in symptomatic radiocapitellar osteoarthritis, which could decrease radiocapitellar load while preserving the native radial head. In an in-vitro biomechanical investigation, we sought to determine whether shortening osteotomy of the proximal radius (1) decreases the radiocapitellar joint pressure upon axial loading and (2) retains valgus stability of the elbow. In addition, the anatomic configuration of the lesser sigmoid notch was evaluated to assess possible contraindications.

METHODS

Axial loading (0-400 N) and valgus torque (7.5 N m) over the full range of motion were applied to 14 fresh-frozen specimens before and after shortening osteotomy of the proximal radius by 2.5 mm. Radiocapitellar and ulnohumeral load distribution during axial compression was evaluated using a digital pressure mapping sensor. Valgus displacement was analyzed with a 3D camera system. The inclination angle (α) of the lesser sigmoid notch was assessed via 50 CT scans.

RESULTS

Up to axial loading of 250 N, shortening osteotomy caused a significant decrease in radiocapitellar contact pressures (p < 0.041). Valgus stability of specimens did not differ before and after shortening osteotomy (n.s.). The mean inclination angle (α) of the lesser sigmoid notch was 11.3° ± 6.3°. 46% had an inclination angle of ≤ 10° (type I). 46% had an inclination angle of 11°-20° (type II). In 8%, the inclination angle was >20° (type III).

CONCLUSION

Shortening osteotomy of the proximal radius can decrease radiocapitellar contact pressures during axial loading of up to 250 N. Primary valgus stability is not relevantly influenced by this procedure. In few patients, shortening osteotomy may cause radioulnar impingement of the radial head at the distal edge of the lesser sigmoid notch due to an inclination angle of >20°. Shortening osteotomy might be a promising treatment option to decrease pain levels in case of isolated radiocapitellar osteoarthritis.

Validation of the contralateral side as reference for selecting radial head implant sizes

Purpose

In arthroplasty of comminuted radial head fractures, the contralateral radial head diameter can be used as reference for implant selection. However, potential bilateral asymmetry may result in a mismatch of the implant with the native bone. Therefore, our purpose was to evaluate anatomical right-to-left differences of radial head diameters. We also compared conventional two-dimensional (2D) with three-dimensional (3D) measurements.

Methods

We used bilateral CT-scans from 25 intact proximal radius pairs of right-handed adult subjects to obtain 50 3D radial head models. After contralateral matching, diameters were calculated using a 3D-based method using an automated circle-fit in standardized cross-sections at the widest level midway through the radial head. The 3D-based diameters were compared to orthogonal line measurements in standard axial CT-slices.

Results

Three-dimensional analysis yielded a radial head diameter of 23.0 ± 1.7 mm. The dominant right side was significantly wider, with right-to-left differences of 0.2 ± 0.4 mm, with a maximum of 0.9 mm. The 2D-based diameter was 22.9 ± 1.7 mm, which was 0.1 ± 0.3 mm smaller compared to corresponding 3D-based diameter.

Conclusions

In healthy radial heads, the diameter was biased to the dominant right side, but individual differences were not larger than 1 mm. Compared to implant designs, in which diameter increments are usually 2 mm, this right-bias is not clinically relevant, as it would not affect implant selection. Therefore, the contralateral side can be considered a suitable reference. In clinical practice, the surgeon could estimate this diameter using standard axial CT slices, since its difference with the 3D-based evaluation was also relatively small compared to implant sizing increments.