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Right Elbow X-Ray - Post-Operative Findings

Patient: Shubhra Sharma, 71-year-old Female Date: 16/07/2025 Facility: Promhex Multispeciality Hospital, Greater Noida Views: Right upper extremity - Elbow AP and Lateral

What the X-Ray Shows

This is a post-operative X-ray of the right elbow taken after complex surgical reconstruction. The films show three views (AP and two laterals) of the same elbow with significant orthopedic hardware in place.

Surgical Hardware Present

1. Radial Head Arthroplasty (Radial Head Replacement) The natural radial head has been surgically removed and replaced with a metallic prosthesis. The prosthetic stem is anchored into the proximal radial shaft, and the metallic head articulates with the capitellum (lower end of the humerus). This is typically done when the radial head is too shattered to repair.
2. Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) of the Proximal Ulna A long, anatomically contoured locking plate is fixed along the proximal ulna (the inner forearm bone, including the area around the elbow). It is secured with multiple cortical and locking screws running down the shaft. This suggests the patient had a significant proximal ulna fracture - possibly an olecranon fracture, a Monteggia-type injury, or a complex fracture-dislocation.

Bone and Joint Assessment

  • Distal Humerus: Appears intact, no obvious new fracture
  • Radius and Ulna shafts: Intact below the hardware
  • Joint alignment: The prosthetic radial head appears reasonably aligned with the capitellum; mild degenerative joint changes are expected given the patient's age and injury history
  • Hardware integrity: No obvious signs of screw backing out, plate loosening, or periprosthetic (around-the-implant) fracture on these views

Clinical Summary

This 71-year-old woman sustained a severe elbow injury (likely a high-energy fracture-dislocation, sometimes called a "terrible triad" or complex elbow injury) that required:
  1. Replacement of the shattered radial head with a metal prosthesis
  2. Surgical plating of the broken proximal ulna
The post-operative X-ray appearance is consistent with a complex elbow reconstruction and the hardware appears to be in satisfactory position. However, final clinical assessment (range of motion, pain, neurovascular status) and comparison with prior films would be needed by the treating orthopedic surgeon to fully evaluate the outcome.
Note: This explanation is for informational purposes only. All clinical decisions should be made by the treating physician who has access to the full clinical history.
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