PRONATION with INJURIES Special Reference E. MERVYN The exact mechanism sustain of the of the of many the of an forearm such injury fractures from apparently similar a number of other factors of impact, the direction BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND in which Accident is often difficult to unknown. on the involved, the body determine. precise details Why, ends of the radius and yet another falls are Fracture Hospital to give still lower radius, FOREARM Monteggia able is thus of the of the THE Anterior Birmingham is seldom a greenstick fracture epiphysis of the head humerus, all must be that time mechanism fracture the EVANS, From severe to OF A patient of his with accident, for instance, and should one a the child and ulna, another a separation a supracondylar fracture of the outstretched such as the is falling, and hand ? position The answer of the elbow surely at the so on. ‘1 3 4 FIG. With forearm a fall forward is pronated 1 on and to the the hand hand is the palm FULCRUM downwards. at the nation If the body is twisting moment of impact, force is humerus transmitted to the outwards a strong pro- through the forearm. FIGS. Diagrams right the by illustrating forearm are junction of the rotation of the ulna pronation When acts force a patient seen until give. causes the normal The ulna above by combination 378 mechanism from the of pronation lateral their upper and middle force shown here or by aspect. falls external range cannot forward of impact of the rotation injuries In thirds angulatory as a fulcrum over which continues (Fig. 3). The (Fig. 4) or a transverse and at the moment downward momentum trunk the pronation, (Fig. 2). on to the The strain. the upper end result is either fracture near At the outstretched humerus and hand ulna may same the be The bones of the ulna cross near fractured time the either upper third forearm if the radills is already pronated fixed to the ground. is added when twisting (Fig. of pronation at the radio-ulnar joints rotate, because it is fixed below by its articulation with the humerus. of the rotation force and of the ulna the and of the radius is forced forwards dislocation of the head of tile its upper end (Fig. 5). the hand becomes relatively falling body a rotation force of 2-5 of the forearm. the radius 1). If this force To the of the continues is expended, something the ulnar carpal ligament must and The ulna is therefore liable to fracture, and the bending force set up by longitudinal compression THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY 1’RONATION 1)r(.illc( I1hL set out t11 by I iaiisvci’ )bli(1UU, ( Messerer INJURIES (Figs. l)tltt(rflY 1 ( 2 to 5). OF’ same time in accordance the radius pronation and lies across the ulna, at the junction of the ulna fractures, the two bones come into contact, and the over which the upper end of the radius is forced forward. the radius is either levered third. On theoretical injuries, all of which forward out grounds, then, are well-known: one of the 579 FOREARM fracture the At THE superior with the is forced upper and middle point of contact As the pronation radio-ulnar joint principles into extreme thirds. As the forms a fulcrum force continues, or is fractured in its upper angulation and occasionally anterior the dislocation head of the ulna as of the hea(l of the or above radius Although mainly with which has (1943) stated adults in the that of the Closed ulna in and sometimes In such plating by with the they fracture good flexed might by who ulna treated reduced was closed by methods advocated open emphasized up to the Mechanism-Most of for and and that In no forces one case of his to site be Boyd radiochildren biceps and the present tile skin injury of the the 4, NOVEMBER ulna severe series was with Cononly the by elbow and supination. has not been injury is due the radius forward. there ulna are to a direct point \Vhule it several old case fracture anterior is reasons the head the of nonand of radius hcacifin ‘ “ of Monteggia illustrating of tile ulna dislocation union . at the is subcutaneous bruising this well so; away and, or breaking one case from the was to direct violence, Naylor ulnar fracture which in a large in 1949 the only case if the fracture of tile skin indeed supposed is due Nevertheless NO. pronation in flexion supination occur, to find anteriorly the 31 B, reported fractures the of sometimes site VOL. been noted e 0 exceptional that compound. which Ilead at the be and An of fracture expect in belief the would penetrated bruising the supination. the consider forearm may it 1) At the the of this helievillg had been and present. . back impact violence, have by manipulation. and have traction authorities the possil)le a and in reduction traction by 90 degrees and, if this failed, traction the primary importance of on of gave superior that relax to Nevertheless blow of the stated ‘ ‘ and spica. Speed be reduced mentioned, of cent. in a plaster repair injuries reduction supination they supination the and open authors. but fracture dislocation Watson-Jones surgeons advised with injury of the results (1942) Naylor the advise dislocation sistently ulna ; 3) anterior treatment 6). fixation sling, fracture; ; 2) concerned in 95 per many several of is the in time muscles and so diminish the upward pull of the biceps on head and the radial pull on the ulna by the supinator.” reported a case of lateral dislocation of the head of the (1941) radius of the a fascial in adults cases supinator the radial by any paper immobilisation Monteggia same FRACTURE disability He literature of the the ulna. (Fig. post-operative and the (1940) advocated ulnar dislocation that with radius cause by complications. reduction mentioned \Vise permanent treated of shaft fracture, of cases of the difficult to cause one of three third with backward anterior at this Monteggia it caused a series list plating may 1947), considered radius-the is damaged MONTEGGIA pronation been of the pronation in its middle radius of the ANTERIOR anterior long formidable fracture (Fitzgerald expect forced of the ulna head the fracture without forced others of a high THE probably of the epiphysis with would 1) fracture of compound that proportion fracture to was direct of impact. but of impact. there due point compound, point stated were at the the In ulna support considerable of cases was reported in said to detail in E. 580 his review the of a patient wound taken If the :;) coinminution 3) the on the on admission ; the of is usually was that compression When sustained of both also fracture than the fracture longitudinal injury was the seen. aspect skin over ‘were diit’ in the at roughly the one would ; in no case same level, of the the forearm. nIna Figure 7 is a photograph is unmarked. direct to Monteggia )n’ ilcuct’ V1( fractures ul(I V( reported here expect from either a rotation was the fracture comminuted. patients have given a clear has been either a fracture bones EVANS anterior ulna which force M. history of the but of a blow shaft on of the in no case the of the of from or forearm, or fractures a forward iliore pattern strain back ulna expect the the of the dislocation a shafts of the head of radius. 4) joint It Finally, is strong seems some unlikely of the action dissected anteriorly force as the specimens and that a direct were spent radius crosses soon with a Monteggia after prominence Tile skin clearly blow the the would ulna that by be in fracturing the the capsule supinator sufficient ulna of the brevis to cause ; a twisting in pronation, would to by the ulnar superior and photographed be much hospital. Note displaced fracture radiograph of fracture tilting of lile type \var(l the radial head. is unmarked. tile radio-ulnar brachialis muscles. dislocation, force, more of in by likely if leverage to do so. 8 an anterior Monteggia a child, showing backilead of the radius with tile forearm especially increased FIG. fracture admission caused over the show protected 7 FIG. A child is ill Ileutral rotation. Confirmatory evidence of the mechanism of the Monteggia fracture is shown in the case illustrated in Figure 8. The lateral view of the forearm in neutral rotation shows tilting of the epiphysis that such of the head epiphysial of the capitellum while a valgus strain tilts laterally. Here in neutral radius has at the moment been radius displacements externally in addition are to caused anterior by the of is being thrown on the joiflt, rotation the epiphysis is tilted rotated through 90 degrees It is well dislocation. head the radius and that backward, from the the epiphysis indicating position of known striking full the always that the pronation of injury. TABLE RESULTS OF PRONATION STRAIN Fracture 12 cases dislocatioll ON I THE FOREARM of the ulna in of the head - cases 1 case Fracture of the fracture of ulna Anterior dislocation the Dislocation . of fracture SPECIMENS and anterior (the anterior fracture) in its radius EIGHTEEN its middle third of tile radius Monteggia 3 cases IN tile middle third just below head of the of THE tile of ulna the and transverse tile tuherosity radius witilout elbow JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY PRONATION Experimental In Figure caused a 9 the production limit spiral of of tile normal fracture of Figure Experimental work-In fracture, experiments as follows: the soft and vice ligaments and the A typical VOL. 31 B, 11 an were tissues NO. 4, ulna shows type has and the to OF THE of fracture-dislocation been reached. incomplete rupture forward dislocation determine the 1949 membrane; the shaft in a wooden clamp just in Figures 9 to 11 and 581 FOREARM by Further of the completed. mechanism carried out on eighteen dissecting-room were removed from the elbow and is shown NOVEMBER Monteggia pronation the attempt and the interosseous forearm was gripped experiment INJURIES the of the force. (Fig. 10) ligament. anterior Monteggia specimens. The procedure was forearm, leaving only the capsule of the above pronation rotation orbicular humerus the results was wrist and are held slowly shown firmly in a pronated. in Table I. E. 582 In find the that twelve the was screwed and then forward “ out injuries ulna was screwed out was fractured 111 tiliS experiment Figure 12 silOws The the ‘ ‘ caused specimen head of the of with dislocation was CLINICAL fractures Monteggia able to that reported Under the collect by general and and most on the an graphically. to assess the above-elbow At the the illustrative nearly hand stability cases with flexed and complete of treatment shown the and patient In pressure elbow radio-ulnar in Figures to be achieved 1 2-1 3). by supination-it radius without By fracture \Vhether was ulna. of tile supinating the forearm 13). two years which the author corresponds of these cases lying the was supine most of the patients deformity of When the full the final was radiographed The After in three with as follows: abducted were at taken exception was completed had confirmed rotational are summarised both one reduction was been reduced with position results held forearm reduction head. the were supination ulna; necessary, radial and joint. arm radiographs has roughly management over applied the reduction dislocated. last Lateral the and was by strand (Figs. reduced (Fig. incidence in supination. direct of the superior are in pronation. plaster end the of tile ilead reduced an 90 degrees. dislocation and and gives investigation and elbow radio-ulnar was by traction secured The mid-rotation superior reduction Naylor. This strand to radius MATERIAL uncommon eleven. anaesthesia shoulder in supination, the are only expect was head radial easily of the in supination. “ tile the slowly experiments radius interesting head complete. one would home it was the to rupture in the dislocation in pronation the began force screwed I)rOduced, continued to become consistently and pronation capsule by a pronation observed was as pronation dislocation the or not, the fracture and of its joint. in pronation “ first allowing are caused This EVANS a Monteggia fractured split, supination. the always suddenly If these by in which cases ulna M. been radio- positions in Table 14 to 32. TIlE JOURNAl. OF BONE AND JOINT SuRGERy II PRONATION INJURIES OF TABLE A SUMMARY OF ELEVEN CASES OF THE 583 FOREARM II PRONATION INJURY OF THE F’OREARM I Case - Age Injury \V. I C. Mechanism Monteggia Simple Result Reduction Unknown Supination Union joint of stableulna. Radio-ulnar Supination Union Radio-ulnar of ulna. joint stable upination Normal _)60 F. D. Simple 17 J. P. 3 4 tram. Fell fromExact a mechanism unknown Monteggia J J. \V. 62 Simp le Monteggia Knocked down by car. Fell n to outstretched hand 8 Simple Monteggia Fell off bicycle on to outstretched hand 5 Simple Monteggia R. M. Supination and pressure I Fell Exact off bicycle. mechanism unknown Compound 6 J. Fell from within. Monteggia G. at side 95 45(.S 95 Union of ulna. Radio-ulnar joint stable Open tion at reductwo w e e s a n d supination Neutral 5 Supinatior 30 ) 2 Range of Rotation Pronationpronation side Injured rota- pressure head of Radio-ulnar Union of ulna. subluxation Union a nond radius play. Supination l0 ,) oo 90 30 of ulna. Radio-ulnar joint stable Union Mechanism unknown : Ful1 Fu1l of ulna. ) Radio-ul#{241}ar joint stable ( 120 120 . Union 7 6 Unknown Monteggia Simple of ulna. Supination Radio-ulnar joint stable Full..) Fracture third Superior 8 B. M. lower radius. radioulnar Radius plated. Radio-ulnar reduction in full supination Fell on to hand. Mechanism unknown dislocation Union of radius. Radiou mar joint stable ,) ioo I 50L. 100 - Anterior K. 9 P. _ Unknown 5 Supination Stable head dislocation of radius Ful1 Fuli B. 10W. 10 Stable Caught twisted machine rotated pronation superiorradlo-ulnar radial Separation and anterior epiphy;is dislocationupper )Oiflt Open supinationin reduction full J. Simple Monteggia 3 ioo times -__ 11 E. sleeve into hand fullin andround body seyeral Union . Unknown Sup of ulna. ination joint stable Radio-ulnar Full_) The ranges of rotation measurements VOL. 31 B, movement were NO. 4, taken NOVEMBER are with 1949 shown Patrick’s as one goniometer, would see but them mid-rotation when is ‘‘Full examining a recorded as patient. 0 degrees. The 584 E. FIG. 14 M. FIG. EVANS 15 FIG. 16 1. W. C., aged forty-nine years. Fracture of tile ulna witil anterior dislocation of the head of the radius. Figure 14 shows the position in full pronation and Figure 15 in mid-rotation. Reduction was secured only after full supination with long-axis traction (Figure 16). Note how the ulnar fragments fell together in this position. Case FIG. Case joint 1, continued. was stable 17 FIG. Eight in weeks all positions mid-rotation; later the of fracture rotation: Figure 18 FIG. was united Figure 17, 19, full supination. THE and full JOURNAL tile superior pronation; OF BONE 19 radio-ulnar Figure AND 18, JOINT SURGERY PR()N.\i’ION 20 FIG. Case of F. J 3. the radius failed to . , FIG. sixty-two aged in full pronation achieve reduction, (Fig.23). Ill INJURIES three fllollths, years. OF 21 Monteggia longest the period superior of fracture (Fig. Ofl tile immobilisation radio-ulnar joint 585 FORE.RM FIG. Anterior (Fig. 20). Full sul)ination but with direct pressure tile TIlE 22 FIG. with 21), head was even of tile in this stable. fllaxilllal with radius series, 23 of the displacement lollg axis-traction reduction tile ulna was ilad hea(l (Fig. 22), cOmpiete(l united amid I I I 24 FIG. Case ilead 6. of tile subcutaneous Figure 26 and VOL. the 31 J. aged (;., radius. border. shows tile superior B, FIG. NO. seven Tile upper Figure reduction radio-ulnar 4, NOVEMBER years. 25 fragment of 24 shows tile by 1949 tile fracture of uina penetrated the 26 ulna with anterior tile skill anteriorly, was position in full Pronatiofl and Figure full supination. Eight weeks later the stable in all positions of rotation: Figure was stability secured joint FIG. Compound in full promiation. FIG. 27 dislocation well away 25 in fracture 27 shows of the the from mid-rotation. was that united there E. FIG. Case 9. without in plaster. M. E\’ANS 28 Fmo. 29 K. P., aged five years. A case of anterior dislocatmon of tile fracture of the uina (Fig. 28). Reduction was obtained b’ supination Eight weeks later the reduction was stable in all positions head of and of the radius immobilisation rotation 29). (Fig. t I Case of the operation, 10. B. tipper tile Vt’., aged end of superior tell the years. radius radio-uinar Severe witll pronation separatioll dislocation FIG. 31 FIG. injury of could tile be of capital reduced the right elbow. epiphvsis only JOI’RNAI. 30 supination (Figs. in full OF 32 Anterior hoNE .\Nl) dislocation and 31). (Fig. JOINT At 32). SURGERV PRONATION INJURIES OF THE 587 FOREARM ANALYSIS Several 1) In achieved nine by When the may points of closed Two the radial the observed one limb were by and full submitted vision radial the In one for supelior forearm was its pronated. FIG. 34 be more 13. M. seventy-one with displacenlent and forward the tuberosity of tile radius showed Because the reduction of the head Three 3) the late 31 end open B, was age, of treatment reduction fracture was twelve NO. 4, of the sound the fracture separation reduce was in two of the In dislocation both was weeks epiphysis cases reduced of it was by full and the been was superior limited was radiographs had 35 unusual case of fracture of the ilead (Fig. 33). tile upper radial fragment’was radius needed full supination All union joint in performed 10 three and (Case the perfect 4), there and was positions In slight (Fig. the forward 34). plated. (Fig. was showed radius view of first stable supination position. was rotation was fracture joint degrees of the lower The in neutral rotational in third antero-posterlor the radio-ulnar only stable of 3). full. thai one in ten case subluxation of rotation. ulna weeks. NOVEMBER years. dislocation tilat of the pronation radio-ulnar in all positions The in plaster there patient’s superior of the joint 4) aged later the At the which VOL. , months Despite cases to complete ________ 33 FIG. 8. twice. position. i_Lgl-, Case was only necessary to replacement. radio-ulnar was required usually case wide diSlocation was appeared in this there performed the the other radio-ulnar head was reduction to operation. was that superior on immobilised ; in the when of the supination case accordingly failed recurred pressure successful, operation direct and reduction direct exceptional was reduction head supination in patients closed cases and was but and 2) eleven methods manipulation mid-rotation and the closed dislocation, old be emphasized: 1949 united in all cases and the maximum period of immobilisation in 588 E. 5) In ten normal. out In the of eleven case patients in which the the radial M. EVANS final range of elbow epiphysis was movement replaced at was approximately operation (Case 10), the final range of rotation was much restricted. This case is particularly interesting because of the history. The patient was a boy aged ten years who caught the sleeve of his coat in the rollers of a machine. His forearm was pronated with such force that he was picked up and whirled round twice before falling to the ground. CONCLUSIONS 1 Anterior dislocation forced pronation injury. of the . 2. Full surest supination I wish to against thank Mr for reduction, recurrence C. C. Department and Mr Gill of of the illustrations. of the is essential safeguard of the head Jeffery for of Anatomy, the of the his help University Photographic radius with and immobilisation fracture of the ulna in full supination is a is the deformity. in the preparation of Birmingham, Department or without of the of this paper ; Professor for his co-operation Birmingham in the Accident Hospital C. F. V. Snout experimental for the work; preparation REFERENCES EVANS, Bone E. and M. (1945) : Rotational Deformity Surgery, 27, 373. FITZGERALD, F. P. (1947) : Treatment the Royal Society of Medicine (Section NAYLOR, A. (1942): Monteggia Fractures. J. PATRICK, Forearm SPEED, (1946): J. S., and WISE, Bone study of Journal BOYD, H. of the American WATSON-JONES, of A Fractures. Journal edition, in Fractures of both Bones of the Forearm. Journal of Joint R. (1943): Supination of Bone B. (1940): Medical of Displacements of the Distal of Orthopaedics), 40, 488. British Journal of Surgery, and Joint and and with Surgery, Treatment 28, of Fractures Association, Fractures Pronation, Radio-uinar 29, especial Joint. Proceedings of 323. reference to the treatment of 737. of Uina with Dislocation of Head of Radius. 115, 1699. Joint Injuries. Edinburgh: E. & S. Livingstone, Ltd. Third 2, 520. R. A. and (1941): Joint Lateral Surgery, Dislocation 23, of the Head of the Radius with Fracture of the Ulna. Journal JOINT SURGERY 379. THE JOURNAL OF BONE ANB