# Mason — Mason classification of radial head fractures

> Classifies radial head fractures by displacement and comminution.

**Situação:** vigente · **Órgão:** Musculoesquelético · **Órgão emissor:** Orthopedic consensus · **Versão:** 1954 · **Ano:** 1954

## Procedência e vigência
- Família: léxico
- Tipo de lógica: flat
- Modalidade: XR, CT
- Fonte primária: Mason ML. Some difficulties in the treatment of fractures of the radial head (Mason) (1954) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3348319/
- Última verificação: 2026-06-26
- Última checagem: 2026-06-26

## Categorias

| Código | Rótulo | Critérios | Conduta | Risco | Localizador | Verificado |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| I | Type I | Non-displaced (or minimally displaced) radial head fracture — a fissure (crack) or marginal/peripheral fracture of the rim without displacement. | Nonoperative: brief immobilization in a sling/splint (on the order of days to ~2 weeks) followed by early active range of motion. | Favorable prognosis; one large series reported about 95% excellent or good outcomes with conservative care. | PMC3348319 (Morrey-context 'In Brief: The Mason Classification of Radial Head Fractures'), Treatment/Outcomes, Type 1. | ✓ |
| II | Type II | Marginal (partial articular) sector fracture of the lateral radial head that is displaced — separated from adjacent quadrants, impacted/depressed, or tilted out of alignment. | Variable, no firm consensus: nonoperative early mobilization for stable fractures without a mechanical block, versus open reduction and internal fixation (or fragment excision) when displacement is larger or motion is blocked. | Outcomes are variable; fractures are often more comminuted than they appear (three or more fragments in about 73% in one series), which can complicate repair. | PMC3348319 Treatment/Outcomes, Type 2. | ✓ |
| III | Type III | Comminuted fracture involving the whole radial head, with fragmentation and displacement of the entire head. | Operative: radial head excision, or open reduction and internal fixation versus radial head arthroplasty/replacement depending on reconstructability and elbow stability. | Generally requires surgery; comparative outcome data favoring one surgical strategy over another are limited. | PMC3348319 Treatment/Outcomes, Type 3. | ✓ |
| IV | Type IV | Any radial head fracture with a concomitant elbow dislocation, irrespective of the radial head fracture pattern (added by Johnston, 1962; later incorporated by Broberg and Morrey). | Operative and highly variable: ranges from closed management through ORIF to radial head excision or prosthetic replacement, with attention to restoring elbow stability and treating associated ligamentous/coronoid injury. | Higher-energy injury with associated instability; prognosis not specified per-type in the source. | PMC3348319 Type IV (Broberg-Morrey modification) Treatment section. | ✓ |

### Citações por categoria
- **I**: Mason ML. Some difficulties in the treatment of fractures of the radial head (Mason) (1954) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3348319/ · PMC3348319 (Morrey-context 'In Brief: The Mason Classification of Radial Head Fractures'), Treatment/Outcomes, Type 1.
- **II**: Mason ML. Some difficulties in the treatment of fractures of the radial head (Mason) (1954) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3348319/ · PMC3348319 Treatment/Outcomes, Type 2.
- **III**: Mason ML. Some difficulties in the treatment of fractures of the radial head (Mason) (1954) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3348319/ · PMC3348319 Treatment/Outcomes, Type 3.
- **IV**: Mason ML. Some difficulties in the treatment of fractures of the radial head (Mason) (1954) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3348319/ · PMC3348319 Type IV (Broberg-Morrey modification) Treatment section.


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> Conteúdo de referência reescrito. Confira a publicação primária vigente. Não é dispositivo médico nem substitui o julgamento clínico. O radiologista responsável pelo laudo permanece o autor e o responsável.

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