Comminuted fractures of the radial head.
BACKGROUND
There have been few reports on the long-term outcome of comminuted radial head fractures in adults.


METHODS
10 women and 9 men with a mean age of 45 (21-65) years when they sustained a comminuted fracture of the radial head were re-evaluated after 15-25 years. 6 patients had been nonoperatively (NO) treated while 13 had had a radial head excision. The uninjured elbow served as a control.


RESULTS
At follow-up, 11 patients (4 NO patients) rated their fractured elbow as being without deficits, 7 (1 NO) as being slightly impaired, and 1 (NO) as being severely impaired. Range of motion and elbow strength were not impaired, and even though there were more degenerative changes such as cysts, osteophytes, and sclerosis in the injured elbows by radiography, the prevalence of joint space reduction was not higher.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with an isolated comminuted fracture of the radial head treated nonoperatively or with a radial head excision report no or only minor long-term complaints.
Karlsson
Magnus K
MK
Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Department of Orthopaedics and 1Radiology, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. magnus.karlsson@med.lu.se
Herbertsson
Pär
P
Nordqvist
Anders
A
Besjakov
Jack
J
Josefsson
Per Olof
PO
Hasserius
Ralph
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries