Minimally invasive technique for reduction and stabilization of radial head and radial neck fractures in children. A description of a modified technique and an overview of the literature

Integrity of soft tissues plays a major role in the final outcome of fractures of the proximal radius. Numerous minimally invasive operative techniques were developed to avoid additional trauma during surgical procedure. An overview over the literature is given in the present paper. We report a modified technique of Kapandji for percutaneous reduction and stabilization of displaced radial neck and radial head fractures in children. Functional results in 5 cases were good, and the children had no complaints. In one case with a luxation of the elbow and a fracture of the lateral epicondyle of humerus persistent rotation deficit was observed. The modified percutaneous method described here demonstrates an alternative procedure to reduce and stabilize displaced radial head and radial neck fractures, in contrast to open reduction this method avoids impairment of the anular ligament and joint capsule. Associated complex injuries of the elbow with soft tissue trauma, however, may lead to unsatisfactory functional results despite minimal operative technique and anatomic reduction.