An Alternative to the Traditional Radiocapitellar Line for Pediatric Forearm Radiograph Assessment in Monteggia Fracture.

OBJECTIVE

To find a new reference for assessment of pediatric forearm radiographs besides the traditional RCL.

METHODS

RCLs were drawn on the anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of 170 normal pediatric forearms. Three lines were drawn on each radiograph: the first was drawn along the longitudinal center of the radial neck (N-line); the second, along the radial shaft (S-line); and the third, through the midpoints of the proximal and distal radial physes (P-line).

RESULTS

The P-line was least likely to miss the capitellum on both AP views and lateral views, and the P-line most frequently passed through the central third of the capitellum on both AP views and lateral views.

CONCLUSIONS

Our proposed radiocapitellar P-line was found to be much more reliable in younger children than traditional RCLs.