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

## TL;DR

This study examines how elbow fracture-dislocations affect the pattern of radial head fractures and whether they can predict fracture characteristics.

## Contribution

The study investigates the relationship between elbow fracture-dislocations and radial head fracture patterns using a retrospective surgical analysis.

## Key findings

- Elbow fracture-dislocation types could not predict the number of radial head fragments.
- Most injuries involved three or more fragments in the radial head, indicating high-energy trauma.
- Many cases showed involvement of the proximal radioulnar region.

## Abstract

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.
Level of Evidence II; Retrospective Study.