title: Long-term results and treatment modalities of conservatively treated Broberg-Morrey type 1 radial head fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the long-term outcome (>6 months, with a mean of 46 months after injury) of the conservatively treated radial head fracture type 1 of the Broberg-Morrey (B-M) modification of the Mason classification. The main aim of this study is to assess the limitations in ADL activities on long term following a conservative treatment for B-M 1 radial head fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of a total patient group of 312 patients, 94 patients responded to our invitation for participation in the long-term follow-up study. These patients were included with a mean age of 42 years at time of injury and average of 46 months after injury. Most patients were treated with an upper arm cast or pressure bandage. These 94 patients were invited to fill out the validated Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire for elbow functioning as well as a demographic questionnaire. Basic patient and treatment data were collected from the hospital and trauma registration systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two percent of patients scored 0 (no disabilities) on the DASH questionnaire, 38% had a DASH score between 0.1 and 10.1, and 20% scored over 10.1. Correlations of the non-operative treatment modalities; immobilisation type, physiotherapy, smoking at time of injury, injury mechanism and immobilisation period with DASH outcome have not been found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that a B-M type 1 radial head fracture is not always accompanied with regaining full function on long term. To what extent these observed limitations influence patient behaviour and how treatment modalities influence these limitations should be the base of future prospective research.
authors: Department of Surgery, VU University Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: aj.smits@vumc.nl.
authors: Arjen J
authors: AJ
authors: Smits
authors: Department of Surgery, Slotervaart Hospital, Louwesweg 6, 1066 EC Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Georgios F
authors: GF
authors: Giannakopoulos
authors: Department of Surgery, VU University Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Wietse P
authors: WP
authors: Zuidema
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Broberg–Morrey; Conservative treatment; DASH score; Elbow; Long-term results; Non-operative management; Non-operative treatment modalities; Radial head fracture