MANAGEMENT OF RADIAL HEAD FRACTURE

A fracture involves not only bone, but also surrounding soft tissues. Attention to soft tissue injury may help prevent long-term complicatio ns such as contractures, weakness, instability and loss of propriocept ion. Appropriate treatment is directed at three phases of healing: inf lammation, repair and remodeling. The two- to seven-day inflammatory p hase is controlled with rest, ice, elevation, immobilization and medic ations to reduce the pain and swelling. Immobilization during the two- to eight-week repair phase promotes bone healing but may lead to cont ractures and loss of strength if continued for too long. Physical ther apy during the several-month remodeling phase helps restore strength, range of motion and proprioception. Although six to eight weeks is a u sual estimate for fracture healing, the actual time can be affected by the type of fracture and the person's age, nutritional and health sta tus, and medication use. This review of the diagnosis and treatment of radial head fractures illustrates the importance of directing the tre atment toward the three phases of healing.