Traumatic isolated anterior radial head dislocation in a 7-Year-old girl: Delayed diagnosis and successful surgical management with 5-Year follow-up.

Background: Isolated radial head dislocation in children is a rare injury, often resulting from trauma or associated with complex elbow conditions like Monteggia fracture-dislocations. Its low incidence can lead to missed diagnoses, potentially causing long-term complications such as pain, stiffness, and functional impairment. Early recognition and intervention are essential. Case presentation: A 7-year-old girl presented with persistent left elbow pain and limited motion three weeks after a fall on her outstretched hand. Initial treatment at a local facility misdiagnosed it as a soft-tissue injury. Radiographs revealed anterior radial head dislocation without fractures. Closed reduction failed, leading to open reduction and annular ligament reconstruction using a modified Bell-Tawse technique. Postoperative fixation and rehabilitation followed. Conclusion: At 5-year follow-up, the patient achieved near-complete functional recovery with minimal pronation limitation. This case underscores the importance of thorough radiographic assessment in pediatric elbow trauma and demonstrates successful outcomes from surgical intervention in delayed presentations.