Ring radial head ORIF

Open reduction and internal fixation of fractures of the radial head.

Ring D, Quintero J, Jupiter JB. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2002 · PMID 12377912 · doi:10.2106/00004623-200210000-00011

Question

How well does ORIF work for radial head fractures with increasing numbers of fragments?

Design

Retrospective case series from a US referral centre.

Patients

Patients treated with ORIF for Mason type 2 and type 3 radial head fractures, many with associated elbow injuries.

Intervention

Open reduction and internal fixation of the radial head

Comparison

Outcomes compared by fracture pattern and fragment number

Primary outcome

Rate of unsatisfactory results and early failure

Key result

Simple partial head fractures did well, but comminuted fractures with more than three fragments had a high rate of early failure, nonunion and poor results.

Limitations

Retrospective, uncontrolled case series with heterogeneous associated injuries.

Impact on practice

Underpins the principle of fixing simple radial head fractures and replacing (rather than fixing) highly comminuted ones, especially in unstable elbows.