Monteggia lesion and its equivalents in children

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to evaluate our group of paediatric patients with Monteggia lesion and its equivalents and to compare the characteristics of basic types of these lesions concerning therapeutic approach and results of the treatment.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 111 children treated in the Department of Pediatric and Trauma Surgery of the Thomayer Hospital in Prague between 2001 and 2013 (13 years). When evaluating the outcome of the therapy, Bruce's criteria modified by Letts that assesses range of movement, pain and deformity of the elbow joint were applied. Regarding the therapeutic approach, four groups were compared: nonoperative treatment, reduction and casting, closed reduction and internal fixation (CRIF) and opened reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Results were compared between three groups of patients (Monteggia lesions, displaced equivalents and non-displaced equivalents) using Fisher´s exact test with α set to 0.05.

RESULTS

In all, 46 patients were treated for (true) Monteggia lesion, 27 for non-displaced Monteggia equivalent and 38 for displaced equivalent. There is a statistically significant difference in therapeutic approach between all three groups of patients. There is no significant difference in outcome between Monteggia lesions and both types of Monteggia equivalents, but there is a statistically significant difference between displaced and non-displaced equivalents.

CONCLUSION

There are only two lesions that meet the criteria of Monteggia - (true) Monteggia lesion and displaced Monteggia equivalent. The non-displaced equivalent does not meet the criteria of Monteggia and, therefore, should not be termed a Monteggia equivalent.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III - Retrospective comparative study.

Ultrasound diagnostics of a rare injury of the unossified pediatric skeleton - case report

Plain X-ray remains a standard diagnostic tool for evaluation of skeletal injuries in children. However, it provides inadequate imaging of unossified, cartilaginous parts of pediatric bones. Our article presents the possibilities of ultrasound imaging based on the case report of a seven years old patient with a rare injury of the unossified medial epicondyle of the humerus where the diagnosis and indication for osteosynthesis has been made based on ultrasound examination of the injured elbow. Ultrasound imaging is an ideal, accessible and affordable examination not stressful for the patient; this technique can be used to verify of skeletal injuries that cannot be diagnosed by plain X-ray. Ultrasound imaging should be a standard part of the diagnostic algorithm of skeletal injuries in the pediatric population where a discrepancy is present between distinctive symptoms and negative radiographs.

Vitamin D Levels During Fracture Healing in Children

To evaluate vitamin D levels in children treated with fractures during the healing period. A four-year prospective study, including healthy children treated with diaphyseal fracture of femur or forearm bones. Vitamin D levels were examined four times: at the time of the injury and then one, three, and five months after the injury, together with P1NP, ALP, GGT, and parathormone. In the beginning, patients were blindly divided into two groups, one supplemented with vitamin D3 for the entire follow-up period, the other non-supplemented. Altogether, 107 children underwent examination at the time of their injuries. Of these, 63 were included in the study and examined for the entire follow-up period - 36 supplemented, 27 non-supplemented. At the time of injury, 42 % had a deficit of vitamin D, 36.5 % had insufficiency, only 21.5 % had normal levels. In the children supplemented with cholecalciferol, vitamin D levels increased statistically significantly during the follow-up period (already after 1 month), in contrast with non-supplemented patients, where they did not. When we divided patients according to the initial vitamin D levels (deficit/insufficiency/normal levels) or fracture type (femur/forearm), we also observed significantly better results in supplemented groups. We observed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficit or insufficiency in healthy children at the time of their injuries. Patients supplemented with vitamin D3 had normal levels already after one month and this persisted throughout the follow-up period, in contrast with non-supplemented patients. Therefore, we recommend vitamin D testing and administration for children treated for fractures. Keywords: Vitamin D, Pediatric fracture, Children, Vitamin D supplementation.