Associated injuries complicating radial head fractures: a demographic study.

UNLABELLED: Treatment of radial head fractures may be complicated because of the presence of associated lesions. However, little is known about the frequency or relevance of associated lesions in different types of radial head fractures. We studied the demographics of radial head fractures focusing on associated lesions in 333 adults from 1997 to 2002. The mean age of the patients was 45 years (range, 18-82 years). Two hundred twenty-three (67%) patients had Mason Type 1 fractures, 46 patients had Mason Type 2 (14%) fractures, and 64 patients had Mason Type 3 (19%) fractures. One hundred eighteen of 333 patients (39%) had associated fractures or soft tissue injury. Fifty-three (16%) patients had coronoid fractures, and 45 patients (14%) had elbow dislocations. Two hundred thirty-five (71%) patients had nonoperative treatment, which failed in six (3%) patients. Sixty-six (20%) patients had open reduction and internal fixation, which failed in six (9%) patients. Resection was used in 20 (6%) patients, and radial head replacement was used in 31 (9%) patients, one of which was revised. The ligamentous injury required surgical repair or reconstruction in 44 patients. A concurrent coronoid fracture was the most common associated injury prompting referral to this tertiary medical center. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, Level IV (case-control study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.