[Possibilities for treating chronic radius head dislocations].

Thirteen patients with neglected luxation of the proximal radius who were treated with different surgical procedures at the Orthopaedic Department of the Kantonsspital in St. Gallen (Switzerland) returned for evaluation at an average of 7 years postoperatively. The luxation was traumatic in 11 cases (7 Monteggia-fractures) and in 2 cases due to a dysplasia of the forearm. In 7 patients the deformity recurred and in 1 a synostosis between radius and ulna was noticed. In 4 cases the wrist showed a relative overlength of the ulna. Proximal osteotomy of the ulna in combination with open reduction of the proximal radius gave better results than the other procedures. Congenital luxation of the proximal radius does not cause much symptoms but surgical treatment often results in recurrence of the deformity. Therefore, we only occasionally advocate operative therapy in these cases.