title: Comminuted fractures of the radial head.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Department of Orthopaedics and 1Radiology, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. magnus.karlsson@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Magnus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Pär
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herbertsson
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordqvist
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Besjakov
authors.forename: Per Olof
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Josefsson
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hasserius
mesh_terms: 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