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Fracture of the head of the radius: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Symptoms of fracture of the head of the radius
Pain and restriction of functions indicate damage to the elbow joint.
Diagnosis of fracture of the head of the radius
Anamnesis
In the history - indication of an injury.
Examination and physical examination
In case of external examination, a swelling in the anterior anterior surface of the articulation is detected. Pressing on the head of the radius is painful. Mark a positive symptom of the axial load. Movement in the elbow joint is severely limited, especially rotation and extension.
Laboratory and instrumental research
On X-rays, a fracture is detected, its character and displacement of fragments are determined.
[Treatment of a fracture of a head of a radial bone
Indications for hospitalization
Ambulatory in a polyclinic or under the supervision of a family doctor, patients with compression fractures of the head and neck of the radius are treated, as well as fractures without displacement of the fragments.
Patients with fractures with displacement and comminuted fractures are hospitalized.
Conservative treatment of a fracture of a head of a radial bone
Patients with compression fractures of the head and neck of the radius, as well as with fractures without displacement of fragments are treated conservatively. After the anesthesia of the fracture site, the wrist joint is unbent to an angle of 150 °, the forearm is placed in a position intermediate between supination and pronation, and bent at an angle of 90-100 °. The limb is fixed with a gypsum longus from the upper third of the shoulder to the heads of metacarpal bones for 2-3 weeks. In the process of immobilization assign UHF, exercise therapy of static and dynamic types. After removal of the plaster bandage, they start developing joint movements, apply thermal and pain-relieving procedures, exercise therapy. To avoid ossification of paraarticular tissues and the development of persistent contractures, direct joint massage and forced violent movements can not be performed. Equally unreasonable is mud mud, especially high temperatures.
If edge fractures are identified or the head is split into two or three large fragments that are located next to each other, a closed manual reposition is performed. Its technique consists in traction of the supine limb to the longitudinal axis and deviation of the forearm to the elbow. Lowering of the radial bone through the annular ligament can bring together the longitudinally split fragments. The forearm deflection to the inside widens the articular gap, excluding pressure on the head of the condyle of the shoulder. The surgeon presses the fingers directly on the head of the radius to complete the reposition. The limb is immobilized with a gypsum longus in a functionally advantageous position from the upper third of the shoulder to the head of the metacarpal bone for 4-5 weeks.
Surgical treatment of a fracture of a head of a radial bone
With multi-lobed fractures or a failed reposition, surgical treatment is used. It consists in resection of the head of the radius. This operation can not be performed for children, since the removal of the growth zone will subsequently lead to an uneven length of the forearm bones and valgus deformity of the elbow joint.
After the operation, the limb is fixed with a gypsum longus for 2 weeks and for another 2 weeks uses removable immobilization. Carry out physiotherapeutic treatment for the prevention of adhesions and heterotopic ossification.