Tag Archive for: broken arm

Radial Head Fracture

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Radial head fractures have a misleading name — it’s a common elbow injury, not a head injury. The elbow isn’t something people think about all the time, but its function allows you to bend and straighten your arms and is also involved in the motion of turning the hand over so the palm faces up or down. A radial head fracture is not just a bone injury. There often are associated injuries, which must be taken into account during the initial diagnosis and further treatment. Delayed treatment or less-than-ideal treatment of a radial head fracture bears the risk of late complications, which will greatly impact the patient’s daily living and quality of life. That’s why you need to see the best orthopedic specialists like those at Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

OVERVIEW

Radial head fractures are common injuries occurring in about 20% of acute elbow injuries and also in many elbow dislocations. They are most common in women and people between the ages of 30 and 40. About every third patient with a radial head fracture will also have injuries to the ligaments, especially to the lateral collateral ligament which supports the joint capsule. Other ligaments and the joint capsule itself may be injured. The solid fibrous capsule connecting the ulna (the longer of the two bones in the forearm) and radius along the entire length of the bone can be torn. Even the carpal bones may break.

ABOUT THE ELBOW

The elbow is the joint between the upper arm and the forearm. The radial head is shaped like a disc and allows one to move the forearms in a palms-up to a palms-down position and straighten the arm and elbow out in space wherever needed. The elbow joint is surrounded by a thick capsule. There are lots of ligaments (tissues that connect bone to bone) that make the elbow stable and not “floppy.” Many muscles are attached to the bone on both sides of the elbow joint, but the thickest parts of the muscles aren’t at the elbow itself. That’s why when touching the elbow one can feel the bones easily under the skin. That also means it can be easy to break the elbow because there isn’t much padding. There are also nerves and blood vessels that cross the elbow. These are located mostly in the front of the elbow and on the inside. The ulnar nerve is located on the inside of the elbow close to the bone. When you hit this nerve, it is very painful and is commonly called hitting the “funny bone.”

WHAT IS RADIAL HEAD FRACTURE?

There are a few systems used to classify radial head fractures, but the original system used to differentiate between the injuries is called the Mason classification. It outlines three different fractures that are grouped by the degree to which the bones are out of their normal position:

  • Type 1 fractures: small cracks in the bone, but the elbow remains in its proper place
  • Type 2 fractures: larger cracks in the bone and the bones may be slightly out of alignment with each other
  • Type 3 fractures: these are the most serious with the radial head being broken in multiple places and there is damage to the elbow ligaments and tendons
  • Type 4 fractures: these mean there has also been an elbow dislocation

Read more about Radial Head Fracture on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with an upper extremity specialist today.

Forearm Fracture

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A fractured forearm can be painful, swollen, tender, and sometimes, even deformed. It can affect your ability to rotate your arm, as well as bend and straighten the wrist and elbow. Untreated forearm fractures can lead to several complications, both immediate and long-term. When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. In the former case, the bone doesn’t heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time. This is why you should not hesitate to contact the caring and experienced orthopedic specialists at Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

OVERVIEW

Fractures of the forearm are common injuries in adults accounting for close to half of all broken bones in adults. The highest incidence occurs in men between 10 and 20 years old and women over 60 years old. Fractures of the forearm can occur at different levels: near the wrist at the farthest (distal) end of the bone, in the middle of the forearm, or near the elbow at the top (proximal) end of the bone. They can occur through a direct blow (a fall on the forearm or direct impact from an object) or indirect injury. The latter is usually secondary to landing on an outstretched arm.

ABOUT THE FOREARM

The forearm contains two long bones, the radius and the ulna, that run between the elbow and the wrist joints. If one drops the arms to the side, palms facing outward. The bone closest to the body is the ulna. It’s longer and larger than the forearm’s other bone, the radius. (While maintaining that palms-out position, the radius is closest to the thumb.) The ulna which is straight, is biggest at the elbow, and the radius which has a curve or bow to it, is biggest at the wrist. Together, they give the forearm its rotational flexibility — that’s how it is possible to turn palms up or palms down. The radius and ulna are covered with many long muscles that control the movement of the wrist, hand, and fingers. Several arteries and nerves also pass through the forearm. They provide blood supply and feeling to different parts of the hand and forearm. These nerves also control the actions of the muscles, which allows the use of hands and fingers.

WHAT IS A FOREARM FRACTURE?

The forearm has a complex anatomy to serve its functions of supporting and positioning the hand in space and providing anchorage for muscles that serve hand function. To fully restore these functions after a forearm fracture the bones must heal in the normal anatomical position. Forearm fractures can occur as a single (radius or ulna only) or combined (both bones) fracture. When both bones are fractured at different levels and there is a joint injury at the wrist or elbow, these are described as Galeazzi or Monteggia fractures. A Galeazzi fracture is most often a displaced fracture in the radius and a dislocation of the ulna at the wrist where the radius and ulna come together. A Monteggia fracture is most often a fracture in the ulna and the top (head) of the radius is dislocated at the elbow joint. Occasionally, one bone may break by itself without any other injuries. This usually occurs after a direct blow to the middle of the forearm, and in the ulna, it is sometimes called a “nightstick injury.”  Forearm bones can break in several ways. The bone can crack just slightly, or it can break into many pieces. The broken pieces of bone may line up straight or may be far out of place. In some cases, the bone will break in such a way that bone fragments stick out through the skin or a wound penetrates down to the broken bone. This is called an open fracture and requires immediate medical attention because of the risk of infection.

Read more about Forearm Fracture on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with an upper extremity specialist today.