congenital versus traumatic radial head dislocation
Last reviewed 01/2018
It is not uncommon for there to be difficulty distinguishing traumatic from congenital radial head dislocation. Factors that can help in the diagnosis include:
| Feature | Congenital dislocation | Traumatic Dislocation |
| History of trauma | occasionally | always |
| Family history | often | none |
| Bilateral | common | rare |
| Other anomalies | common | rare |
| Radial head | Dome shaped for anterior dislocations, narrow for posterior dislocations | Normal shape with concavity |
| Ulna | shortened; may be bowed | normal |
| Capitellum | hypoplastic or absent | normal |