Radial Head Dislocations

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Introduction

Radial head dislocations can easily be missed if the radial line is not assessed in each elbow image. Equally, associated fractures and dislocations can be missed (satisfaction syndrome). This page considers imaging of radial head dislocations, associated fractures and their pathological appearances on plain film imaging.

Case 1

This 5 year old girl presented to the Emergency Department after falling from a railing onto her left arm. Her left elbow was very swollen and painful. She was referred for radiography of her left elbow.

	The radial line bisects the capitellum suggestion enlocation. There is a lucent line through the olecranon process indicating a fracture.
	The lateral elbow image demonstrates anterior and posterior fat pad signs. There is a radial head dislocation- the radial line does not bisect the capitellum. There is also further evidence of a fractured olecranon process. The lower white arrow is probably pointing to a normal structure given there is no associated soft tissue swelling.

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