What are the complications of a radial head fracture? Manual workers should have now returned to full duties.īy now you should have forgotten about your fracture! If there is ongoing loss of movement preventing you from doing things, then it is worth discussing surgery. Normal function should have returned, although residual loss of movement may still be a problem. The elbow will probably not straighten out just yet. Office workers should be able to return to full duties. The elbow should now be fairly comfortable other than when using it for anything heavy. Build up use of the arm by using it for everyday activity, slowing down and adapting the way you do things to accommodate the elbow. The pain should rapidly subside during these weeks such that the elbow is painfree at rest by week 4. Concentrate on mobilising the shoulder, wrist and hand, with gentle movement of the elbow every half an hour. Pain in the elbow can be intrusive but bearable. As the pain settles over the first week, it is safe to use the arm for all everyday activity, and this will build up quickly over the first few weeks. Remember to keep the shoulder, wrist and hand moving as much as possible to prevent generalised stiffness in the arm. Take the arm out o the sling every half hour and gently bend and straighten the elbow within the limits of what is reasonably comfortable. Using a fork, drinking from a glass, tying laces, washing, using a telephone are all things that need the hand to be positioned by the elbow in order to accomplish. Unlike the other joints in the arm such as the shoulder or wrist, it is virtually impossible to do anything without moving the elbow, because of its key function in positioning the hand. The best way to mobilise the elbow is to use the arm normally for light everyday activity. This type of injury is usually one where the surgeon will recommend an operation to convert the injury into a STABLE injury and allow early movement. The elbow may partly or fully dislocate, making early movement of the elbow unsafe. UNSTABLE INJURIES – Many fractures of the radial head are associated with injuries to other bony parts of the elbow or to the ligaments around the elbow. If there is ongoing impairment of rotation then surgery may be recommended to remove the bone fragments of to remove the radial head itself. Otherwise, these injuries are usually treated in the same way as a stable injury, with the potential for surgery to be recommended if movement remains restricted.Įvaluation of Movement – This is recommended at around 2-4 weeks following the injury. Occasionally, review of the xrays will identify a bone fragment likely to significantly impair movement, and in this case early surgery will usually be recommended to remove the interfering bone fragment. There is, however, a risk of the displaced bone fragments interfering with normal elbow joint movement, particularly forearm rotation. Although the fracture fragments may move separately from the main bone, there is no risk of the elbow becoming partly or completely dislocated by the injury. Although the elbow may hurt when it is used, this will not cause harm.ĭISPLACED STABLE INJURIES – In some radial head fractures, the bony fragments are displaced, even although the soft tissues around the elbow are intact. It is very safe to use the arm as normally as possible in a stable radial head fracture. In addition, mobilisation of the shoulder, wrist and hand are key to regaining early function in the arm (see below). Mobilisation – Early mobilisation of the elbow helps prevent stiffness in the elbow. The vast majority of radial head injuries are stable.Ĭollar and cuff – A sling is recommended initially in order to help alleviate pain.Īnalgesia – Painkillers are usually necessary for the first week or two. STABLE INJURIES – In a stable fracture of the radial head, the fracture fragments move as one piece and the soft tissues around the elbow remain intact, even if bruised or sprained. The treatment of a radial head fracture depends on the type of injury seen: Usual area of pain in a radial head fracture
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