Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
đ¨Emergency? If you have severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, or think it's an emergency, call 000 immediately.
Radial Neck Fractures in Children (Elbow Fracture)
Radial neck fractures are breaks just below the radial head bone at the elbow in children ages 4-10, typically caused by falling onto an outstretched hand, resulting in elbow pain, swelling, and difficulty straightening the arm - most minimally angulated fractures (less than 30 degrees tilt) heal well with casting alone in 4-6 weeks, while severely tilted fractures may require manipulation or surgery to prevent permanent elbow stiffness.
đWhat is Radial Neck Fractures in Children (Elbow Fracture)?
Radial neck fractures are breaks just below the radial head bone at the elbow in children ages 4-10, typically caused by falling onto an outstretched hand, resulting in elbow pain, swelling, and difficulty straightening the arm - most minimally angulated fractures (less than 30 degrees tilt) heal well with casting alone in 4-6 weeks, while severely tilted fractures may require manipulation or surgery to prevent permanent elbow stiffness.
đŦWhat Causes It?
- Falling onto outstretched hand with elbow slightly bent (FOOSH injury) - most common mechanism
- Direct blow to outer elbow (sports injury, playground fall)
- Fall from height landing on elbow (trampoline, monkey bars)
â ī¸Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Age 4-10 years (peak incidence, weaker bone-cartilage junction in growing children)
- Active participation in sports or playground activities (higher fall risk)
- Previous elbow fractures (10-15% have other associated elbow injuries)
đĄī¸Prevention
- âSupervise young children on playground equipment (monkey bars, climbing structures)
- âEnsure proper padding and safety mats under playground equipment
- âTeach children safe falling techniques in sports (tuck and roll rather than bracing with straight arm)
- âUse protective gear for high-risk activities (elbow pads for skateboarding, rollerblading)