Radial head fracture: A potentially complex injury. [free PhD thesis]
Radial head fractures are common and account for up to one third of all elbow fractures, and were probably first described by Paul of Aegina (AD: 625-690). In 1935, Jones already stated that: “The fracture of the head of the radius is a serious injury, and whilst the prognosis is good for recovery of a useful elbow, rarely it is a normal elbow.” Although knowledge of radial head fractures has increased over the past few decades, any aspects of this common fracture are still not clear.
This thesis contains four parts, in each of which an issue relating to radial head fractures was discussed. In part I elbow anatomy, etiology, diagnosis and treatment of radial head fractures were addressed. The epidemiology of radial head fractures and their associated osseous injuries, as well as the relationship between radial head fractures and osteoporosis, were discussed in part II. Part III focused on the incidence and clinical relevance of osseous, cartigilanous, and ligamentous, associated injuries in elbows with a radial head fracture. Injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) was discussed in a broader spectrum and in more detail. In part IV a systematic review was performed on the treatment of stable Mason type II fractures without associated fractures or elbow dislocation. This part also described the short-term results of the cemented and press-fit radial head prostheses in patients with post-traumatic disorders of the elbow. The inter- and intra-observer agreement of the Mason-Hotchkiss classification was also evaluated. > from Laurens Kaas (2012). All rights reserved to the Amsterdam Medical Center, Universiteit van Amsterdam.
The free full text PhD. thesis (168 pages) can be downloaded here.
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