title: Mason type IV fractures of the elbow: a 14- to 46-year follow-up study.
abstract: A total of 14 women and seven men with a mean age of 43 years (18 to 68) who sustained a Mason type IV fracture of the elbow, without an additional type II or III coronoid fracture, were evaluated after a mean of 21 years (14 to 46). Primary treatment included closed elbow reduction followed by immobilisation in a plaster in all cases, with an additional excision of the radial head in 11, partial resection in two and suturing of the annular ligament in two. Delayed radial head excision was performed in two patients and an ulnar nerve transposition in one. The uninjured elbows served as controls. Nine patients had no symptoms, 11 reported slight impairment, and one severe impairment of the elbow. Elbow flexion was impaired by a mean of 3 degrees (sd 4) and extension by a mean of 9 degrees (sd 4) (p < 0.01). None experienced chronic elbow instability or recurrent dislocation. There were more degenerative changes in the formerly injured elbows, but none had developed a reduction in joint space. We conclude that most patients with a Mason type IV fracture of the elbow report a good long-term outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herbertsson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hasserius
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Josefsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Besjakov
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nyquist
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordqvist
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000601:surgery; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries