Acute Monteggia lesions in children

Twenty-five consecutive acute Monteggia lesions in children were treated during a six-year period. The series included a very rare case of a Type-II Monteggia lesion not previously reported in children. All patients, except one, were treated by closed reduction. In two instances, after a successful reduction the unstable radial head was fixed with a percutaneous Kirschner wire inserted through the capitulum with the elbow flexed 90 degrees. This was done to avoid immobilizing the elbow in an acutely flexed position. On follow-up (average, thirty-four months), all the end results were excellent.