Les luxations de l'extrémité proximale du radius chez l'enfant

[Dislocations of the radial head in children] Dislocations of the radiale head in children may be congenital, post-traumatic or of developmental origin. The treatment of these situations is discussed. The post-traumatic dislocations may be isolated or associated with a posttraumatic lesion of the ulnar bone: i.e. fracture or a posttraumatic bowing. In cases of post-traumatic bowing, the correction of curvature of the ulnar bone is imperative to obtain a stable reduction of the radial head. In neglected post-traumatic dislocations of the radial head, the surgical reduction is possible but needs to be completed with an angulation osteotomy of the ulnea (Tajima) or a derotation osteotomy of the radius (Yamamoto). The congenital dislocations of the radial head are rarely a single lesion. They are mostly observed in association with other congenital abnormalities. Under development of the ulna may lead to a progressive dislocation of the proximal radius. When both bones are affected (i.e. in longitudinal limb hypoplexia or in osteo or chondrodysplasia), the growth must be followed roentgenologically to detect the risk of appearance and to prevent or treat the dislocation of the radial head.