ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of closed reduction and internal fixation with elastic nails in treatment of Mason type Ⅱ radial head fracture in adults.MethodsA clinical data of 28 patients with Mason type Ⅱ radial head fractures between May 2013 and March 2017 was retrospectively analyzed. Thirteen patients were treated with closed reduction and internal fixation with elastic nails (trial group); 15 patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with Herbert screws (control group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, side of fracture, and the time from injury to operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, blood loss, and fluoroscopy times in the two groups were recorded and compared. Postoperative X-ray films were used to evaluate the bone healing, heterotopic ossification, and necrosis of radial head. The effectiveness was evaluated according to Mayo score criteria of the elbow at last follow-up. ResultsAll patients were followed up 12-30 months (mean, 21.9 months). The operation time and blood loss were significantly less in the trial group than in the control group (P<0.05), while the fluoroscopy times significantly increased in the trial group than in the control group (P<0.05). X-ray films showed that all fractures healed with the bone healing time of (2.85±0.69) months in the trial group and (3.35±0.88) months in the control group. There was no significant difference in bone healing time between the two groups (t=1.654, P=0.110). Heterotopic ossification occurred in 2 cases in the control group. At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the Mayo scores between the trial group (90.6±5.3) and the control group (86.4±7.1) (t=1.750, P=0.092).ConclusionClosed reduction and internal fixation with elastic nails, as a minimally invasive technique, has advantages of short operation time and less bleeding in the treatment of Mason type Ⅱ radial head fracture.