Supporting physiotherapy

After a radial head fracture, it is important to relearn the function of the elbow. Physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed for this purpose. Especially in conservative therapy, the focus is on early functional therapy.

Here, gentle, adapted movement exercises are started after only about 7 days.After an operation, physiotherapy is also used for rehabilitation, where the elbow joint is trained according to the surgeon’s instructions. The patient usually receives an additional “homework program”, in which he or she performs simple exercises at home without a physiotherapist. In physiotherapy, therapeutic techniques and measures of physical therapy are used in addition to exercises.

Complications can occur in the various therapeutic procedures for radial head fractures. With conservative therapy, there is a fundamental risk that the bone fragments will not heal back together as they were originally anatomically arranged. This results in a deformed radial head, which in turn can hinder the function of the elbow joint.

As a result, it is not uncommon for the elbow joint to develop arthrosis, which in turn can be accompanied by pain and restricted mobility. Complications can also arise due to the plaster splint, which can be observed especially if the patient is immobilized in a plaster cast for too long. Fixation in the 90° position can stiffen the elbow joint (so-called contracture).

This is manifested by the fact that the joint can no longer be fully extended after removal of the plaster. Often the outward rotation (supination) of the forearm is then also hindered. During surgery, there is a risk of injury to surrounding structures, such as the nerves and ligaments that run in the area of the elbow joint.

In the worst case, this can result in long-term failure symptoms. Furthermore, arthrosis can also develop in the joint after operations, since even these procedures cannot achieve a hundred percent success rate. Radial head fractures can result in consequential damage and complications.

If immobilization is insufficient, pseudoarthrosis can develop, for example. These are bones that do not grow together stably. The elbow joint can lose its mobility and the arm its ability to bear weight.

Damage to nerves can lead to paralysis or even paralysis of the forearm due to the radial nerve in the immediate vicinity of the radial head. A detailed documentation and examination of the nerve function should be carried out in order to be able to intervene at an early stage in case of damage. A permanent restriction of movement of the elbow joint can also be a late consequence of a fracture of the radial head. The radial head is particularly important for rotational movements (pro- and supination) of the forearm. In the case of radial head resection or poorly healed fragments, joint mobility can be permanently restricted.