| A radial head fracture is the most common broken | | | | the possibility of compartment syndrome. Primary |
| elbow bone seen in adults. Radial head fractures are | | | | treatment involves sending for expert medical |
| common injuries, occurring in about 20 percent of all | | | | assistance, securing the arm to the body in a |
| acute elbow injuries. They are more frequent in | | | | comfortable position and gentle application of ice for |
| women than in men and occur most often between | | | | 20 min. Further treatment requires the expertise of |
| 30 and 40 years of age. Approximately 10 percent of | | | | an orthopaedic surgeon because a fracture in which |
| all elbow dislocations involve a fracture of the radial | | | | the bone is displaced may require fixation. A bone |
| head. As the upper arm bone (humerus) and the ulna | | | | fractured with no displacement may require only |
| return to their normal alignment, a piece of the radial | | | | splinting the arm at a 90° angle for a few weeks. |
| head bone could be chipped off (fractured). Radial | | | | Radial Head Fracture Treatment and Prevention Tips |
| head fractures cause pain and swelling around the | | | | 1. Nonsurgical treatment involves using a splint or sling |
| elbow. Radial head fractures occur most commonly in | | | | for a few days, followed by early motion. |
| contact and collision sports when a player falls onto | | | | 2. If too much motion is attempted too quickly, the |
| an outstretched hand or arm. . Blunt or penetrating | | | | bones may shift and become displaced. |
| trauma rarely causes radial head injury. | | | | 3. If displacement is minimal,followed by range of |
| The presence of bleeding, even with small puncture | | | | motion exercises, is usually successful. |
| wounds, should alert the examiner to the possibility | | | | 4. Small fragments may be surgically removed. |
| of open injury. Neurovascular symptoms of | | | | 5. Early movement to stretch and bend the elbow is |
| numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation should be | | | | necessary to avoid stiffness. |
| identified to rule out nerve or vascular injury. The | | | | 6. A prosthesis (artificial radial head) can be used to |
| presence of severe pain should alert the examiner to | | | | prevent deformity if elbow instability is severe. |