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The radial head is critical for elbow stability, forearm rotation, and force transmission across the upper limb. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence from peer-reviewed literature, clinical guidelines, and systematic reviews, covering epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic assessment, and management. It compares conservative and surgical options, clarifies indications and outcomes, reviews complications, and outlines rehabilitation protocols.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/radial-head-fractures-in-adults-a-narrative-review/437489/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/radial-head-fractures-in-adults-a-narrative-review/437489.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Mimi","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What roles does the radial head play in the elbow?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"The radial head contributes to elbow stability, enables smooth forearm rotation, and helps transmit forces from the hand and wrist through the elbow joint.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What are the typical mechanisms and incidence patterns of radial head fractures in adults?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Radial head fractures commonly occur in adults after falls onto an outstretched hand, with an overall incidence reported around 2.5–2.8 per 10,000 person-years and a peak in the 30–40 age range.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"How does treatment strategy differ between conservative and surgical approaches?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"The review discusses both conservative and surgical options, emphasizing that the choice depends on fracture severity, associated injuries, and patient factors, with modern surgical techniques and implants used when preservation is not feasible.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},437489,1790764103,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":52,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},2336477974920,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","Review began 10/24/2025  \nReview ended 12/02/2025  \nPublished 12/06/2025  \n© Copyright 2025  \nMohamed et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CCBY 4.0. , which permits unrestricted use , distribution , and reproduction in any medium , provided the original author and source are credited.  \nDOI: 10.7759/cureus.98559  \nOpen Access Review Article  \nRadial Head Fractures in Adults: A Narrative Review  \nAhmed Mohamed 1, Usman Fuad 1, Usama Farook 1 , Alaa Elasad 2 , Adham Elsayed 1, Ioannis P. Pengas 1  \n1. Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, GBR 2. General Practice, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EGY  \nCorresponding author: Ahmed Mohamed, [ahmed.mohamed65@nhs.net](ahmed.mohamed65@nhs.net)  \nAbstract  \nRadial head fractures are common injuries, particularly in adults, following falls onto an outstretched hand. These fractures are common in emergency departments and orthopedic clinics. The radial head is important for elbow stability, forearm rotation, and force transmission across the upper extremity. Understanding the anatomy, mechanisms of injury, classification systems, and treatment approaches is essential for healthcare providers managing these injuries. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence from peer-reviewed literature, clinical guidelines, and systematic reviews on radial head fractures, focusing on contemporary management strategies. We examine the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management strategies for these injuries. We explore both conservative and surgical treatment options, discussing the indications for each approach and their associated outcomes. Additionally, this article addresses the complications that may arise following radial head fractures and provides insights into the rehabilitation protocols. The management of radial head fractures continues to evolve with advances in surgical techniques and implant technology, making it important for clinicians to remain informed about current best practices. This comprehensive review aims to provide a practical understanding of radial head fractures to assist healthcare providers in delivering optimal care.  \nCategories: Medical Education, Trauma, Orthopedics  \nKeywords: elbow fractures, elbow stability, mason classification, radial head fractures, radial head replacement  \nIntroduction And Background  \nDespite its small size, the radial head plays an important role in upper limb function. It contributes to elbow stability, allows for smooth rotation of the forearm, and helps transmit forces from the hand and wrist up through the elbow joint. When the radial head is fractured, these functions can be significantly compromised, leading to pain, restricted movement, and potential long-term disability if not properly managed [1] .  \nRadial head fractures are common elbow fractures with an incidence of 2 .5-2.8 per 10,000 person-years. They are the most common fractures around the elbow joint. The peak incidence occurs in adults aged 30-40 years. These injuries are uncommon in children. Women sustain radial head fractures approximately 1.3 times more frequently than men [2] .  \nThe management of radial head fractures has evolved considerably over the past few decades. Historically, prior to the 1980s, treatment approaches often involved simple immobilization for minimally displaced fractures or excision of the fractured radial head for comminuted injuries [3] . However, as our understanding of elbow biomechanics has improved, treatment strategies have become more sophisticated. Surgeons now recognize the importance of preserving the radial head whenever possible to maintain elbow stability and function. When preservation is not feasible, modern prosthetic replacements can restore anatomy and function more effectively than excision alone [4] . The evolution from radial head excision to contemporary arthroplasty techniques represents a paradigm","cbCaiptIuXXMCSJx","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiptIuXXMCSJx","pdf",966653,"English","# Abstract\n# Introduction And Background\n# How to cite this article\n# Review\n## Methods","[{\"question\":\"What roles does the radial head play in the elbow?\",\"answer\":\"The radial head contributes to elbow stability, enables smooth forearm rotation, and helps transmit forces from the hand and wrist through the elbow joint.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the typical mechanisms and incidence patterns of radial head fractures in adults?\",\"answer\":\"Radial head fractures commonly occur in adults after falls onto an outstretched hand, with an overall incidence reported around 2.5–2.8 per 10,000 person-years and a peak in the 30–40 age range.\"},{\"question\":\"How does treatment strategy differ between conservative and surgical approaches?\",\"answer\":\"The review discusses both conservative and surgical options, emphasizing that the choice depends on fracture severity, associated injuries, and patient factors, with modern surgical techniques and implants used when preservation is not feasible.\"}]","Radial Head Fractures in Adults: A Narrative Review | PDF",1790682131,25]