A 35-year-old woman falls on an outstretched hand. X-ray shows a severely comminuted fracture of the radial head involving the entire head, with more than 3 mm of displacement of fragments. According to the Mason classification, this fracture is:

• A Type I
• B Type II
• C Type IV
• D Type III ✓

Explanation

Mason classified radial head fractures as Type I, undisplaced marginal fracture; Type II, displaced marginal fracture; and Type III, comminuted fracture of the entire radial head. The later addition of Type IV denotes radial head fracture associated with elbow dislocation, credited to Johnston. This patient's comminution of the whole head places her in Type III, which in adults may require radial head excision or prosthetic replacement, especially if associated with interosseous membrane injury.

Reference: Rockwood and Green's Fractures in Adults, 9th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.