Capitellum Fracture definition and picture
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Capitellum Fracture

This is part of the elbow joint itself and forms the joint between the radius and the humerus bones. As for all other joint line fractures, a minute amount of separation of the fragments can be treated with plaster for a few weeks, but more usually an operation to pin or screw the bone fragments into place is necessary. Sometimes the bone fragment is too small or too badly damaged to be replaced and it has to be removed, but this can lead to pain, stiffness and early arthritis in the elbow. Some of these injuries need to be followed up by the doctors for many months in order to check that the damaged bone does not lose its blood supply and die.