We did a retrospective study of forty segmental fractures of the radial
head in thirty-nine patients. Good results were achieved in twenty of
thirty-four fractures with non-operative treatment. In six patients the
radial head was excised totally and in only one was a good result achieved.
The average follow-up was 10.0 years. Only rarely was there deterioration
of the short-term results. The prognosis was not affected by the extent of
the depression, the size of the fragment, or the degree of comminution. We
concluded that the only indication for operation in this type of fracture
is a loose fragment in the joint.