A radial head fracture commonly presents with which finding?

• A. Wrist pain with motion.
• B. Numbness in the index finger.
• C. Pain only when bending the elbow.
• D. Pain, swelling, bruising on the outside of the elbow, and limited range of motion.

Answer: (D)

Radial head fractures commonly come from a fall on an outstretched hand, and the radial head sits at the outer (lateral) aspect of the elbow. When this area is injured, you typically see swelling and bruising around the outside of the elbow, with tenderness over the lateral elbow itself. Movement is painful and often limited, especially with forearm rotation (pronation and supination) and with elbow bending and straightening. These signs—pain, swelling and bruising on the outside of the elbow, plus a restricted range of motion—are the classic presentation of a radial head fracture.

Numbness in the index finger would suggest nerve involvement in a different pattern (like median or anterior interosseous nerve effects), not the usual picture of a radial head fracture. Pain only with bending the elbow misses the common issue of forearm rotation and lateral elbow tenderness, and wrist pain with motion isn’t the typical isolated elbow fracture finding.