Displaced Operable Radial Head Fractures : Functional Outcome Correlations.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Upper Extremity Injuries

Background:

• Radial head fractures frequently occur with other injuries.
• Associated injuries are often under-diagnosed and under-estimated.
• These associated injuries significantly impact final functional outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and impact of associated injuries in displaced radial head fractures.
• To determine the correlation between associated injuries and patient functional scores.

Main Methods:

• Clinical, radiological, and functional assessment of 39 displaced radial head fractures at an average of 47 months postoperatively.
• Statistical analysis of demographic data, case notes, and follow-up data.
• Pearson's correlation coefficient used to analyze associated injuries and functional scores.

Main Results:

• 94% of Mason type III and 52% of Mason type II radial head fractures had associated injuries.
• A strong negative correlation was found between the number of associated injuries and functional scores (r = -0.972 for Mason III, r = -0.994 for Mason II).
• Average Mayo Elbow Performance Scores were lower for Mason III (55) compared to Mason II (70).

Conclusions:

• Isolated radial head fractures are rare; displaced fractures require comprehensive evaluation.
• Associated injuries are frequently missed and undertreated.
• Addressing associated injuries during surgery is essential for improving functional outcomes.