Pearls

• Treat minimally displaced fractures with no mechanical block with early range of motion after 2-5 days in a sling.
• Examine the wrist with all radial head injuries to rule out Essex-Lopresti Lesion (radial head fracture with a distal radioulnar joint injury).
• The joint’s motion can be blocked by a radial head fracture. An intra-articular injection of lidocaine at the radiocapitellar joint can help to determine if limited ROM is from pain or from a block.
• Radiocapitellar (or "Greenspan") X-ray can evaluate articular step off and displacement.

Complications

Elbow stiffness with prolonged immobilization.