Orthopaedic Surgery - Discharge advice following attendance with a radial head/neck fracture

• You have a break in the radial head or neck - one of the bones in your elbow
• These fractures almost always heal well with time and use - no specific treatment is required and therefore routine follow-up is unnecessary
• A sling will hold your elbow in a comfortable position for a few days
• You should wean yourself off this as your pain settles and aim to remove the sling completely as soon as you feel able
• You may initially require regular pain killers as it is important to keep gently moving the elbow and gradually resume daily activities within the limits of discomfort. This will prevent the risk of stiffness and ensure the quickest return to normal function
• There is a risk that by forcibly stretching you may experience pain and delay your recovery
• It may take up to 3-6 weeks for the bulk of the pain to settle
• The function may continue to improve for up to 12 months from the date of the fracture
• There is a risk that you may experience slightly reduced movement at the elbow, especially on straightening it, but this is unlikely to affect your function

Contact Information

Should you have any worries or concerns following discharge from hospital, please contact the Fracture Clinic on 0161 206 4892 between 8.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

Please leave a message out of hours, and a member of staff will return your call as soon as possible.