[Monteggia fracture in childhood]

In a collective study the late results of 72 Monteggia fractures in children are presented. Early and sufficient treatment achieved excellent results in all these cases. The misdiagnosed dislocation of the radial head was the only cause of unsatisfactory outcome. Persistent dislocation of the radial head however did not lead to major functional impairment of the elbow in most cases. A therapy related classification of the Monteggia fracture is recommended, which includes 1. age, 2. Ulna fracture: reducible or irreducible, stable or unstable retention, 3. radial head dislocation: reducible or irreducible, stable or unstable retention, 4. additional lesions at the same arm.