Radial head fracture

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Fall off bike onto elbow.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

A large joint effusion is present, which is associated linear cortical breach of the radial head which appears undisplaced.

Zoomed images

x-ray

A faint fracture involves the lateral aspect of the head of the radius, without a significant articular step-off. This is consistent with a Mason type I fractures. 

Case Discussion

Even when a fracture is invisible, a large elbow joint effusion in an adult, should be treated as a radial head fracture

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