Radial Head/ Radial Neck Fractures

Radial Head/ Radial Neck Fractures

What to expect:

Weeks since injury	Rehabilitation plan
0-3	You should wear the sling that you were provided with for first few days and up to one week, but you should discard the sling at the earliest opportunity Take it off to wash, dress and do some gentle exercises to elbow and wrist Elbows get stiff very quickly. It is important to start exercising as soon as possible. You will find pictures and instructions for your exercises on the next page. You may find it more comfortable to sleep propping that arm up on pillows Using a cold pack will help with your pain and swelling Rest that arm, especially in the first 24-72 hours
3-6	You can now return to light activities. Remember you should avoid lifting anything more than the weight of a cup of tea for the first 6 weeks You may return to sports such as swimming as soon as comfortable but should avoid contact sports (such as football, rugby and basketball) for 6 weeks A follow up appointment is not normally needed for this injury. Please contact the Virtual Fracture Clinic if you do not have a good movement by 3 weeks after your injury. You may need a physiotherapy referral
6-12	The injury should be healed now You can go back to normal activities. This should be increased gradually and be guided by any pain or discomfort. Some heavier tasks may still be uncomfortable You must be aware that after this injury sometimes you are unable to fully straighten your elbow due to the nature of the injury. This is why early mobilisation is so important It is normal to still have mild discomfort. This may continue to 3-6 months

Exercises
Regular exercise will prevent stiffness and help to recover movement. Try to do these exercises every hour. If this is too painful, start with 3-4 times a day. Repeat each exercise 10 times.

Swelling & Pain
Part of the body’s normal response to injury is pain and swelling. Follow the simple steps below to manage your symptoms.

• Ice: Ice is a great natural anaesthetic that helps relieve pain and controls swelling. Apply ice packs or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel to the site of the injury. You may find it helps to apply ice before and after completing your exercises. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Do not leave the ice pack on for more than 20 minutes at a time in one hour. Repeat as much as required.
• Medication: A&E may have prescribed pain relief. Give as instructed to help keep on top of the pain. If you do not feel that this medication is helping, consider talking to a pharmacist or your GP to see if there is an alternative option.

Smoking with an injury
Medical evidence suggests that smoking prolongs fracture healing time. In extreme cases it can stop healing altogether. It is important that you consider this information with relation to your recent injury. Stopping smoking during the healing phase of a fracture will help ensure optimal recovery from this injury.

Physiotherapy:
If you have been referred to the Physiotherapy Department you can expect to hear from them in about 2-3 weeks, if you are worried that you have not heard from them please contact your local hospital and ask for the Physiotherapy Department.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m concerned about my symptoms and/or I am struggling to return to exercise.
Please contact the Virtual Fracture Clinic.

I am struggling with my sling. What do I do?
Contact the Virtual Fracture Clinic. We are happy to give further advice or change your sling if needed.

When can I start driving?
You can return to driving when:

• You are no longer using a sling,
• You can move comfortably and
• You can control the vehicle safely.

Always test your ability to drive in a safe environment first.

How can I get a certificate for work?
You can get a fitness for work statement from your GP.

Should you have any worries or concerns following your discharge from hospital please contact:

Virtual Fracture Clinic

07:00 – 14:30 Monday-Friday

Worcester Royal Hospital 01905 760 259

https://staging.worcsacute.mixd.co.uk/virtual-fracture-clinic

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything, please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to answer your questions and reassure you. 

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf, if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: [email protected]

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.  

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