Complex and unique surgeries are performed frequently and on a regular basis at Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Another successfully performed complex traumatological operation was no exception.
The patient sustained a multifragmentary fracture of the radial head of the right forearm in a fall in the street.
The head of the radial bone is located near the elbow joint. Its main function is to provide so-called rotational movements in the forearm (palm up - palm down). A fracture of the head of the radius occurs mainly when falling on the elbow or when falling on an outstretched, slightly bent arm on the palm. A fracture of the head of the radius is an intra-articular fracture and therefore requires more attention than a fracture of the diaphysis (middle third of the bone).
At another hospital, the patient was offered removal of the radial head of the right forearm, which could have resulted in complete loss of function of the patient’s arm. The patient refused this surgery and began to look for other alternative treatments for her injury.
Anuarbek Kulcharov, traumatologist with extensive experience in such surgeries, offered the patient an endoprosthetics surgery of the radial head, which would allow her to regain full functionality of her arm.
- In multifragmental fractures of the radial head with significant displacement, there are two methods of surgical treatment - fixation of the radial head fragments (osteosynthesis) or endoprosthetics of the radial head. Endoprosthesis replacement of the radial head is indicated in case of multifocal fracture, in case of old fracture (more than 3 weeks after the injury), in case of nonunion fracture and in case of deformity of the radial head. This is a complex but very effective operation, as it returns the patient to a full life, unlike surgery to remove the head of the radius or osteosynthesis, which could partially or completely limit the mobility of the patient’s arm,” Anuarbek Kulcharov explained.
As with any surgical intervention, this operation requires the patient to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations for a full successful recovery from the injury.
It is important to remind all patients that late or incorrect treatment of this pathology may entail certain complications that will have a negative impact on daily life and quality of life.
