By Steve Horvath
Photography (c) Steve Horvath for ISM Rehab
What is a radial head fracture? (1)
Radial head fractures are a very common fracture of the elbow caused by most often by trauma to the elbow. The severity of radial head fractures can vary from non-displaced fractures requiring very minimal treatment to large displacement fractures that can require surgery to repair.
Anatomy of the Elbow
There are three major bones that make up our elbow: the humerus, the ulna and the radius. The humerus is the long bone in our upper arm that sits in the shoulder joint and stops at our elbow. The ulna and radius are two smaller long bones that make up the lower portion of the elbow and reach down to create our wrist joint.
How does a radial head fracture occur? (1)
Radial head fractures most commonly occur with a direct force through the hand (such as falling on outstretched arm) that sends large amounts of force up through the radius and ulna. This causes the radial head to hit the capitellum of the humerus. Due to this mechanism of injury it is not uncommon for the elbow to dislocate as well which causes stretching or tearing of the ligaments surrounding the elbow.
What are some signs/symptoms of a radial head fracture? (2)
The most common symptoms of a radial head fracture include:
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Swelling in the elbow joint
- Difficulty in bending or straightening the elbow accompanied by pain
- Inability or difficulty in turning the forearm (palm up to palm down or vice versa)
What kinds of treatments are available for a radial head fracture?
Depending on the severity of the fracture, displaced versus nondisplaced, and whether the elbow dislocated during the occurrence of the injury, there are various outcomes and treatments available for the radial head fracture. This can range from resting and risk reduction in daily activities for microfractures of the radial head to open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery to aid in the reconstruction of the radius. Through the use of screws and plates, multiple bone fragments can be held back to the radius and allow for reunion of the bone as one unit.
After surgery it is common that there may be restrictions on the person’s range of motion into extension as this position can be compromising to the integrity of the surgical work and loosened ligaments if dislocation occurred during injury. This range restriction can be achieved through post-surgical bracing (as seen in this adjacent image). Regardless of the severity of injury, physiotherapy may be indicated to increase the flexibility, functionality and strength of the person’s extremity in the subacute phase after injury/surgery. |
Summary
At ISM Rehab we have an excellent multidisciplinary healthcare team which includes physiotherapists and assistants, registered massage therapists, physician assistants, orthopaedic surgeons, and physiatrists. Together these health professionals will work together to provide you with the client centered care you need to ensure you make a complete recovery.
References
(1) Fractures in Brief: Radial Head Fractures (2009) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2816766/
(2) Radial Head Fractures of the Elbow (2014) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/radial-head-fractures-of-the-elbow
(2) Radial Head Fractures of the Elbow (2014) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/radial-head-fractures-of-the-elbow