Radial head fracture

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Fall while drunk. Now painful elbow.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male
x-ray
Lateral
Lateral
Oblique
Frontal
Lateral
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Info

There is a mildly displaced intra-articular fracture of the radial head, with a ~2mm articular step-off.  Joint effusion noted. 

Case Discussion

Even when a fracture is invisible, a large elbow joint effusion in an adult, should be treated as a radial head fracture. In this case the fracture is evident, and will probably require ORIF. 

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