Fractures of the proximal end of the radius associated with other traumatic lesions of the upper limb. A report of seventy-three cases.

Closed isolated fractures of the radial head should be considered and managed in a different way from those associated with other traumatic lesions of the upper extremity. The recommended treatment for the radial head is early motion, with or without internal fixation or arthroplasty. For this to be achieved, surgical fixation of most of the associated fractures, and surgical repair of serious damage to capsular and ligamentous structures, should be performed. Indications are proposed, according to the results of a series of 73 cases which are compared with our series of 168 observations on isolated radial head fractures.