Displaced fractures of the neck of the radius in adults. An excellent long-term outcome.
We have reviewed 20 women and three men aged 22 to 73 years, who had sustained a Mason type-IIb fracture of the neck of the radius 14 to 25 years earlier. There were 19 patients with displacement of the fractures of 2 mm to 4 mm, of whom 13 had been subjected to early mobilisation and six had been treated in plaster for one to four weeks. Of four patients with displacement of 4 mm to 8 mm, three had undergone excision and one an open reduction of the head of radius. A total of 21 patients had no subjective complaints at follow-up, but two had slight impairment and occasional elbow pain. The mean range of movement and strength of the elbow were not impaired. The elbows had a higher prevalence of degenerative changes than the opposite side, but no greater reduction of joint space. Mason type-IIb fractures have an excellent long-term outcome if operation is undertaken when the displacement of the fracture exceeds 4 mm.
Akesson
T
T
Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, SE 20502 Malmö, Sweden.
Herbertsson
P
P
Josefsson
P-O
PO
Hasserius
R
R
Besjakov
J
J
Karlsson
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004550:Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092464:Elbow Injuries