What should I do if I have a fracture of the radial tuberosity?

  Radial tuberosity fractures are common elbow injuries, accounting for 0.8% of systemic fractures, and about l/3 of patients have combined injuries to other parts of the joint. Radial tuberosity fracture is an intra-articular fracture, and if there is displacement, it is logical to cut and reposition the fracture for internal fixation to restore the anatomic position and early movement to restore elbow extension and flexion and forearm rotation function.  In patients with radial tuberosity fracture, X-ray examination is mainly performed, including pre- and post-repositioning X-rays of elbow dislocation, to avoid missed diagnosis and to determine the degree of injury of radial tuberosity fracture, which has a direct impact on the treatment method and prognosis.  After the injury, local pain, swelling, and deformed posture can occur, often combined with joint dislocation. If surgery is delayed, osteomyositis is likely to occur and the functional recovery of the elbow is poor, and ischemic necrosis of the radial tuberosity may occur. The deep branch of the radial nerve may also be damaged during surgery, resulting in complications of nerve injury. For comminuted fractures of the radial tuberosity, the surgical area and the elbow joint cavity should be flushed more often during surgery to avoid residual fragments of broken bone, which may affect the function of the elbow joint after surgery. The preferred option is microplate fixation or hollow nail fixation. If the combined radial head is severely comminuted and cannot be fixed with a plate, artificial radial tuberosity replacement can be performed at the same time for severe comminuted fractures, when available, in young and strong patients, because there are a series of complications in the distant future after radial tuberosity resection, which affects young and strong people and manual workers.