Which percent is the absolute value assigned to loss of the radial head?

• A. 3 percent
• B. 5 percent
• C. 10 percent
• D. 15 percent

Answer: (B)

In this impairment framework, each specific injury has a fixed, or absolute, percent value assigned to it. Loss of the radial head is given a small, definite whole-person impairment of five percent. This reflects that, while the elbow contributes to function, losing the radial head yields a relatively modest impact on overall function compared with other injuries. The five percent isn’t a range and doesn’t depend on other factors by itself; it’s the standard value for this particular injury. The other percentages would apply to different injuries or more extensive losses, but for the radial head specifically, the fixed value is five percent.