title: Chronic posterior subluxation and dislocation of the radial head.
abstract: The clinical and radiographic features of chronic posterior subluxation or dislocation of the radial head were studied in thirty-four elbows of twenty-seven patients. Three characteristic radiographic types were noted: Type I, subluxation; Type II, posterior dislocation with minimum displacement; and Type III, posterior dislocation with substantial proximal migration of the radius. Follow-up of eighteen patients (twenty-one elbows) revealed that posterior displacement did not usually cause serious functional impairment except for loss of rotation of the forearm. The least common presentation, Type-I subluxation, caused pain and clicking and was associated with late degenerative arthritis. Cosmetic deformity due to prominence of the radial head was also a cosmetic problem, particularly with Type-III dislocation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Morrey
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bianco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*