title: Nonunion of nonoperatively treated fractures of the radial head.
abstract: Although fractures of the radial head traditionally are not associated with healing problems, delayed union and nonunion are being seen more frequently after operative and nonoperative treatment. Given the tenuous blood supply to the head of the radius, problems with healing are not surprising. As the current review of five patients with nonunion of nonoperatively treated radial head fractures treated during a 6-year period shows, healing problems rarely are symptomatic and often may go unrecognized. Even when the fracture still is apparent on radiographs obtained more than 1 year after the injury, healing still may occur. Operative treatment, although rarely necessary, achieved union in one of the current patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.forename: Vasilis N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Psychoyios
authors.forename: Kingsley R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Jesse B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jupiter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D017759:Fractures, Malunited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome