Monteggia fractures involve an ulna fracture associated with dislocation of the proximal radioulnar joint and are most common in children aged 4-10. The Bado and Letts classifications detail various types based on fracture characteristics and mechanisms of injury, guiding treatment options that range from non-operative reduction to surgical interventions. Complications such as nerve injuries and chronic deformities can arise if fractures are not properly diagnosed and treated.

1. MONTEGGIA
FRACTURE
DR. YASH N THAKKAR
Junior resident
Dept. of Orthopedics
Seth GSMC and KEM hospital

2. WHAT IS MONTEGGIA
FRACTURE?
• Fracture of ulna associated
with proximal radioulnar
joint and radio capitellar
joint dislocation.
• MC age: 4-10 YEARS
• Giovanni Batista Monteggia
in 1814

3. BADO CLASSIFICATION

4. BADO CLASSIFICATION
TYPE RADIUS ULNA MECHANISM OF
INJURY
1. Anterior Ulnar diaphyseal fracture with
apex anterior
M/c in children, might be
associated with soft tissue
interposition
Rotational position of
forearm seems to affect
the fracture

5. 2.
Posterior/posterolateral Ulnar diaphyseal/metaphyseal
with apex posterior
M/c in adult
Rotational position of
forearm does not seems
to affect the fracture
pattern.
TYPE RADIUS ULNA MECHANISM OF INJURY

6. 3.
Lateral Fracture of proximal ulna with
apex lateral or in varus but does
not consider olecranon fracture
2nd m/c in children, m/c a/w
soft tissue interposition
between radio capitellar joint
Varus stress at the level
of elbow when forearm
is planted on a hard
surface
TYPE RADIUS ULNA MECHANISM OF INJURY

7. 4.
Anterior Radius + ulna fracture Similar to type 1
TYPE RADIUS ULNA MECHANISM OF INJURY

8. • DORMANS AND RANG:
• Extended BADO classification by adding a type 5
• Intermittent and habitual dislocation of radio capitellar joint and
proximal radioulnar joint.

9. Letts classification
• Classified monteggia fracture in children based on the direction of
radial head dislocation and ulnar fracture
• BADO type 1 is subdivided in three sub types
• TYPE A – anterior bowing of ulna (Plastic deformation) and ant.
Dislocation of radial head
• TYPE B – Greenstick fracture of ulna
• TYPE C – Complete fracture of ulna
• TYPE D – same like BADO type 2
• TYPE E – same like BADO type 3

10. MECHANISM OF
INJURY
TYPE 1
A. Direct trauma: direct blow on
posterior aspect of forearm - ulnar fracture
and anterior dislocation of radial head.
B. Hyperextension theory: m/c:
FOOSH leading to hyper-extension of
elbow - pull of biceps leading to radial head
dislocation

11. HYPERPRONATION
THEORY:
Sudden hyper pronation causes
Rotation of radius over ulna
Anterior directed force on radial head leading
to anterior dislocation of radial head or
fracture of proximal third of ulna.

12. TYPE 2
60 degree of elbow flexion with applied
longitudinal traction resulting in posterior
elbow dislocation.
• Also in patients with weaker ulna than its
surrounding ligaments, bone gives away
earlier than the ligament hence the fracture
occurs.

13. TYPE 3
• Varus stress at the level of elbow in
combination with outstretched hand planted
firmly against a fixed surface.
• Often produces a green stick fracture with
tension failure radially and compression
medially.
• Lateral dislocation of radial head a/w rupture
of annular ligament

14. MONTEGGIA EQUIVALENTS

16. ASSOCIATED INJURIES WITH MONTEGGIA:
• Distal radial and ulnar fractures
• Galeazzi fractures
• Radial head and neck fractures
• Distal humerus lateral condyle
FACTORS A/W POORER OUTCOME:
• Intra-articular injury
• Coronoid fracture
• Comminuted ulna fracture
• Comminuted radial head fracture

17. CLINICAL FINDINGS
BADO TYPE 1
Skin tenting and ecchymosis on anterior
aspect of skin.
Fullness on anterior aspect of elbow.
Valgus positioning of elbow

18. BADO TYPE 2
Swelling in posterolateral aspect of
radial head.
Posterior tenting of skin.
Radial nerve and Posterior interosseous
nerve injury is common

19. BADO TYPE 3
Lateral swelling
Varus deformity
Loss of rom (mainly supination)

20. BADO TYPE 4
Similar to type 1 but more severe
injury
Risk of compartment syndrome
Increased risk of neurovascular
injury

21. RADIOLOGY
• Xray elbow ap and lateral
• Xray full length forearm with
wrist ap and lateral (ipsilateral)
• Xray contralateral side Elbow ap
and lateral

22. LIGAMENTS
1.Annular ligament (orbicular
ligament)
• Prime stabiliser of PRUJ
• Get tightens in supination.
• Encircles radial neck from its origin and
its insertion on proximal ulna.
• Confluent with the remainder of LCL and
provides stability to radio capitellar joint
and PRUJ also resists varus stress.

23. MUSCULATURE
• Biceps brachii
• Deforming force in type 1 lesion, hence elbow is to be kept flexed in type 1 lesion to
prevent recurrent anterior dislocation of radial head
• Anconeus
• Dynamic stabiliser of elbow joint and provides a valgus moment at the joint during
pronation and extension
• Surgical exposures of proximal radioulnar joint and radio capitellar joint is performed
through anconeus and ecu interval

24. NERVES
Radial nerve
• Passes through interval between biceps and brachialis
• Close proximity to radial head makes it susceptible to injury in monteggia
fractures (specifically in type 2)
Posterior interosseous nerve
Associated with injury in type 1 and type 3 monteggia fracture
Leads to partial or complete loss of finger extension, thumb abduction and sensory
loss over dorsum of hand of lateral three and half fingers
Ulnar nerve
• Associated with injury in type 2 monteggia because of stretched associated with
varus deformity and in chronic monteggia where it is associated with ulnar
lengthening

25. TREATMENT
• Goals of treatment:
• Restoration of radio capitellar joint congruency
• Maintain ulnar length and fracture stability
• Anatomical correction of ulnar deformity

26. Non operative treatment
Reserved for Paediatric
population
• Reduction is maintained in
flexion by above elbow cast
for 6 to 8 weeks duration
• Degree of flexion depends
upon the radial head
dislocation

27. TYPE 1
• Close reduction manoeuvre

28. TYPE 2
• Closed reduction via longitudinal
traction and an anteriorly directed force in
60 degree flexion.
• Slab applied in 60 degree flexion or
complete extension.
• Osteonecrosis and non union are
complications

29. TYPE 3
Closed reduction: longitudinal
traction along with valgus
stress to reduce radial head.

30. TYPE 4
• Aim is to do closed reduction
and convert type 4 lesion into
type 1 by fixing radial shaft
fractures.

31. OPERATIVE treatment :
Indication for operative intervention
• Failure of ulnar reduction
Can be reduced but difficult to maintain because of
obliquity of fractures, hence ORIF is necessary
• Failure of radial head reduction
This is due to interposed soft tissue (radial
nerve/annular ligament) within the radio capitellar
joint.

32. COMPLICATIONS:
NEGLECTED MONTEGGIA FRACTURE
NERVE INJRIES
PERIARTICULAR OSSIFICATION
COMPARTMENT SYNDROME
RADIAL HEAD INSTABILITY
NON UNION – MOST OFTENLY BADO TYPE 2

33. Neglected Monteggia fracture
• Uncommon
• Frequently missed in children
• Chronic neglected monteggia > 1month
Can lead to – Limited ROM
Radial head deformation
Radioulnar synostosis
Malunion
shortening of Ulna

34. Neglected Monteggia Lesion
• Criteria for surgical Repair
(1). Normal concave radial head articular and convex capitulum
(2). Progressive deformity
(3). Normal shape of radius and ulna
(Deformity of either correctable by osteotomy)
Best when corrected within 6 months of injury
Better outcome up to 10 years of age

35. • Surgical procedure
Open reduction
Ulnar osteotomy alone or in combination with ligament
reconstruction
Annular ligament repair or reconstruction
Radial osteotomy
Radial head excision

36. Ulnar osteotomy
• Aim – to restore radio-ulnar relation and interosseous membrane
• Mc location is at level of Proximal Ulna
• Posterior bending overcorrection osteotomy – ulnar lengthening
• Bone grafting
• Fix with either plate and screws or
• Using gradual lengthening technique temporary stabilization with
external fixation followed by gradual lengthening
• Some patient might need ALR if unstable.(check for stability intra-op)

38. They did z shaped sagittal osteotomy, distracted, angulated and fixed
with one medio-lateral screw
Post op immobilised in AE slab for 6 weeks followed by gradual
mobilization

39. Rajasekaran S, Venkatadass K. "Sliding angulation osteotomy": preliminary report of a novel technique of treatment for chronic radial head
dislocation following missed Monteggia injuries. Int Orthop. 2014 Dec;38(12):2519-24. doi: 10.1007/s00264-014-2514-8. Epub 2014 Sep 11.
PMID: 25209346.

40. ANNULAR LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION:
• Intra op test for radial head stability should be checked
• Approaches for ALR
• Kocher approach
• Boyds approach

41. APPROACHES:
Kocher approach:
• Skin incision over the lateral
epicondyle and continue distally and
obliquely directly over the lateral
epicondyle up to proximal ulna
• Inter nervous plane: b/w anconeus and
ECU
• Forearm in pronation in order to
protect PIN

42. BOYD APPROACH:
• Incision: extends from lateral border of triceps to
lateral condyle and extending along the radial side
of proximal ulna.
• This incision is carried under the anconeus and ecu
in an extra periosteal manner elevating the fibres
of supinator from ulna.
• Advantages:
• Approach proximal fourth of radius
• Access radio capitellar joint
• Fixation of ulna

43. ANNULAR LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION:
Bell tawse:
• Used the central portion of triceps tendon passed through a drill hole and around he radal neck to stabilise the
reduction and immobilised the elbow in long arm cast in extension

44. • BUCKNILLAND LLYOD ROBERTS:
Modified bell tawse approach where they used the lateral portion of triceps tendon with a trans
capitellar pin for stability.
Elbow was immobilised in flexion
• THOMPSON AND LIPSCOMB:
Utilised fasica lata for the same approach.

45. Radial head excision
Radius osteotomies Poor outcomes

46. Treatment of choice
• ORIF of ulna fracture with 3.5 mm DCP or Intramedullary nailing (less
favoured) in paediatric patients
• Plate on tension side of ulna
• Close reduction of radial head once ulnar length is achieved
• Failure of close reduction of radial head – open reduction of radial head
and pinning
• Posterior elbow splint or AE slab Post op f/b physiotherapy
Monteggia fracture in adults

49. TAKE HOME MESSAGE

50. TAKE HOME MESSAGE
• HIGH INDEX OF SUSPICION
• ALWAYS GET XRAY OF IPSILATERAL WRIST AND CONTRALATERAL
ELBOW
• CONSERVATIVELY MANAGED PATIENT TO BE FOLLOWED UP EVERY
WEEKLY FOR SEQUENTIAL CHECK XRAYS
• CHECK FOR RADIAL NERVE AND POST INTEROSSEOUS NERVE PALSY
• LOOK FOR SIGNS OF COMPARTMENT SYNDROME
• FAILIURE TO MAKE DIAGNOSIS CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC MONTEGGIA
LESION

51. CASE DISCUSSION
• 7 year old child
July 2021 Xray

52. • Fresh xray

53. Thank you