Monteggia fractures: beware!

Abstract

Monteggia fractures consist of an ulna fracture accompanied by radial dislocation. These fractures are easily overlooked because of the prominence of the ulnar fracture. Furthermore, the leading cause of malpractice cases brought against emergency departments involve missing high-risk orthopedic injuries, such as Monteggia fractures. The purpose of this article is to provide sufficient information to reduce the possibility of underestimating forearm injuries and, consequently, diagnose a Monteggia fracture correctly. This article outlines the classification of Monteggia fractures, the mechanism of injury, a specific case report, and a discussion of consequences when the extent of the injury is underestimated. Finally, specific ways are presented to easily avoid the misjudgment of a Monteggia fracture.