Abstract
Background context
Radial head fractures are the most common fractures of the elbow. Whereas associated cartilaginous injury to the humeral capitulum is not uncommon, and a displaced fragment trapped within the radial head fracture is rare and has only been reported infrequently.
Case presentation
We report a case of a 43-year-old man with displaced Mason II radial head fracture in which a full thickness cartilage fragment of the capitulum trapped in the radial head fracture was found intraoperatively.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Herbertsson P, Josefsson PO, Hasserius R, Besjakov J, Nyqvist F, Karlsson MK (2004) Fractures of the radial head and neck treated with radial head excision. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86-A(9):1925–30
Ring D, Quintero J, Jupiter JB (2002) Open reduction and internal fixation of fractures of the radial head. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84-A:1811–1815
Michels F, Pouliart N, Handelberg F (2007) Arthroscopic management of Mason type 2 radial head fractures. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 15:1244–1250
Van Riet RP, Morrey BF, O’Driscoll SW, Van Glabbeek F (2005) Associated injuries complicating radial head fractures: a demographic study. Clin Orthop Relat Res 441:351–355
Ward WG, Nunley JA (1988) Concomitant fractures of the capitellum and radial head. J Orthop Trauma 2:110–116
Morrey BF (2000) Radial head fracture. In: Morrey BF (ed) The elbow and its disorders, 3rd edn. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 341–364
Carroll RM, Osgood G, Blaine TA (2002) Radial head fractures: repair, excise, or replace? Curr Opin Orthop 13:315–22
TRANSACTIONS OF THE NEW YORK SURGICAL SOCIETY Stated Meeting, held December 8, 1915. (1916) Ann Surg 63(4):486–490
Caputo AE, Burton KJ, Cohen MS, King GJ (2006) Articular cartilage injuries of the capitellum interposed in radial head fractures: a report of ten cases. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 15:716–720
Milch H (1931) Unusual fractures of the capitulum humeri and the capitulum radii. J Bone Joint Surg 13(4):882–886
Heim U, Trub HJ (1978) Experiences with primary osteosynthesis in radial head fractures. Helv Chir Acta 45:63–9
Geel CW, Palmer AK, Ruedi T, Leutenegger AF (1990) Internal fixation of proximal radial head fractures. J Orthop Trauma 4:270–4
Newman JH (1983) Radius fractures and damage to the capitulum humeri. Injury 14:477
Nalbantoglu U, Gereli A, Kocaoglu B, Aktas S, Turkmen M (2008) Capitellar cartilage injuries concomitant with radial head fractures. J Hand Surg 33A:1602–1607
Poulsen JO, Tophoj K (1974) Fracture of the head and neck of the radius. Follow-up on 61 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 45:66–75
Radin EL, Riseborough EJ (1966) Fractures of the radial head. A review of eighty-eight cases and analysis of the indications for excision of the radial head and non-operative treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am 48:1055–64
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tebourbi, A., Nefiss, M., Hadhri, K. et al. Capitellar cartilage trapped in a radial head fracture: a case report. Eur Orthop Traumatol 6, 277–279 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-015-0312-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-015-0312-4