FRACTURE-DISLOCATIONS OF THE ELBOW: CAN THEY INFLUENCE THE PATTERN FRACTURE OF RADIAL HEAD?

• Published in: Acta ortopedica brasileira Vol. 32; no. 2; p. e278639
• Main Authors: da Silva, Thiago Augusto, Malaquias, Alexandre Martins, Cruz, Marcio Alves, Kikuta, Fernando Kenji, Mouraria, Guilherme Grisi, Etchebehere, Maurício
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil ATHA EDITORA 01-01-2024; Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia
• Subjects: Elbow Fractures; Fracture Dislocation; Original /Shoulder and Elbow; ORTHOPEDICS; Radial Head and Neck Fractures; Elbow Fractures; Radial Head and Neck Fractures; Fracture Dislocation; Fraturas da Cabeça e do Colo do Rádio; Fratura-Luxação; Fraturas do cotovelo
• ISSN: 1413-7852; 1809-4406; 1809-4406
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-785220243202e278639

Radial head fractures are consistently part of a terrible triad of the elbow and can occur in association with Monteggia fracture-dislocations, transolecranon fractures, and their variations. Understanding the degree of comminution of the radial head fracture and the location of fragments determines the course of action to be taken.
To correlate fracture-dislocations with the pattern of radial head fracture (number of fragments) and involvement in the proximal radioulnar region.
A retrospective study (level II) of patients undergoing surgery for radial head fractures associated with fracture-dislocations. Patients had radiographs in anteroposterior and lateral views, as well as tomography. The number of radial head fracture fragments and the presence of fractures in the proximal radioulnar region were correlated with the type of fracture-dislocation and demographic variables.
Elbow fracture-dislocation types could not predict the number of fragments and the location of radial head fractures. However, most injuries presented three or more fragments in the radial head, and many had involvement of the proximal radioulnar region, suggesting high-energy trauma.