[RADIAL HEAD FRACTURES - DIAGNOSIS, CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT].

Abstract

Introduction: Radial head fractures are a common injury of the elbow joint usually occurring after a fall onto an outstretched hand ("FOOSH"). These fractures comprise 30% of all the fractures of the elbow joint in adults and 11% of proximal radius fractures in children. Clinically, these patients present with elbow tenderness and swelling with bruising and pain in pronation and supination. These fractures are usually accompanied by associated injuries such as scaphoid fractures, distal radio-ulnar joint injuries, coronoid process fractures and ligamentous injuries. Diagnosis and classification are based on X-ray radiographs. The radiographic inquiry should include arm and wrist views in order to promptly identify associated injuries, which impact the course of treatment.