Abstract

Introduction

With the enormous increase in the fastly growing epidemic of mobilopathy, radial head fractures are posing challenge to orthopaedicians. Due to stiffness of joint, early mobilization is of utmost importance. Opinions vary as to whether radial head should be excised in the treatment of radial head fractures. There has been fear of post­excision subluxation of inferior radioulnar joint also. With these confusions in mind, this study of sixty cases of fracture of radial head was undertaken to determine the indications for operative intervention.

Fractures of radial head were thought to be incidental autopsy findings until 1905 when Thomas showed the fracture to be relatively common one. The first real attempt to classify these fractures and to compare non-operative with operative results was made by Cutler (1926).