Musculoskeletal ImagingMonteggia fracture - dislocation
(Giovanni Battista Monteggia, 1762 - 1815, Italian surgeon), a combined fracture of the ulna and dislocation of the radial head. Four types are distinguished (Table 1).
Monteggia fracture dislocation, Table 1. Types of Monteggia fracture dislocation.
| Type I |
Fracture of the middle or upper third of the ulna with anterior dislocation of the radial head and anterior angulation of the ulna |
| Type II |
Fracture of the middle or upper third of the ulna with posterior dislocation of the radial head and posterior angulation of the ulna |
| Type III |
Fracture of the ulna just distal to the coronoid process with lateral dislocation of the radial head |
| Type IV |
Fracture of the upper or middle third of the ulna with anterior dislocation of the radial head and fracture of the upper third of the radius below the bicipital tuberosity. |
Of these forms, type I injuries occur most frequently, followed by types II, III and IV, in that order. The Monteggia fracture dislocation is a common injury in adults; therefore, multiple views of the elbow should be obtained in all patients who demonstrate fractures of the proximal half of the ulna (Fig.1).
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Lateral radiograph of the forearm demonstrates fracture of the ulnar shaft with anterior dislocation of the radius.
(Courtesy of Kjell Jonsson, MD, Lund, Sweden)
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Monteggia fracture - dislocation, Fig.1 | |