[Surgical therapy of radial head fracture--results of osteosynthesis and resection treatment].

Between 1982 and 1993 we performed internal fixation or resection in 95 adult patients for radial head fracture. It was possible to follow up 68 patients for an average of 2.1 years. In 53 cases the initial injury was an isolated radial head fracture, which was treated by internal fixation in 41 and resection in 12 cases. Good results were obtained in 80% of patients. A satisfactory outcome was associated with young age, little initial fragment dislocation, internal fixation with screw + K-wire, and early postoperative physiotherapy. Primary resection for crush fractures of the radial head did not have negative long-term effects. In a comparison group with complex elbow injuries (elbow luxation in 9 and a Monteggia-type injury in 6 cases) in addition, results were considerably poorer and did not depend on the above-mentioned factors.