Radial Head Incarceration After Closed Reduction of a Pediatric Elbow Dislocation With a Radial Neck Fracture: A Case Report.

Abstract

A 10-year-old girl sustained a radial neck fracture with a posterior elbow dislocation. She was treated with closed reduction of the elbow with subsequent intra-articular displacement of the radial head, which necessitated open reduction and pinning of the radial neck fracture. Displacement of the radial neck fracture from impingement of the capitellum on the anterior radial head during closed reduction of the elbow dislocation is a rare injury pattern. It is important to examine the radial neck in high-energy posterior elbow dislocations before attempted reduction. We present a case with imaging depicting the injury mechanism and successful management with subsequent open reduction and fixation of the radial neck fracture.