Comparing treatments

	Let the fracture heal withour surgery	Surgery to line up the fracture
What is involved?	The fracture heals on its own. You should move and stretch the joint to limit stiffness.	Screws hold the fracture while it heals.
Results	The fracture heals. The elbow might lose a bit of motion. Small chance of problems with rotation with the fracture.	The fracture heals. The elbow might lose a bit of motion. Small chance of problems with rotation from the screws.
Advantages	No surgery.	The fracture is put in a better position.
Disadvantages	Very small risks of: Limited rotation of the forearm. Crackling or snapping with forearm rotation.	The discomforts and inconveniences of surgery and anesthesia. A scar. You need to be careful with your arm in the first few weeks after surgery to protect the screws.
What are the risks?	Approximately 2 out of a 100 people choose to have a later surgery.	9 of 100 people have a minor problem after surgery (infection, hematoma, nerve damage including skin numbness). 5 of 100 people have a second surgery for infection or problems with the screws.