Results of Acute Excision of the Radial Head in Elbow Radial Head Fracture-Dislocations

Abstract

Acute radial head excision for the treatment of elbow fracture-dislocations provides satisfactory short-term clinical results when there are no other associated intraarticular fractures. However, the long-term significance of the early degenerative changes is not known.

Reconstruction of Mason type-III and type-IV radial head fractures with a new fixation device: 23 patients followed 1–4 years

“…ligament injury where the radial head is important for prevention of valgus deformity (Hirvensalo et al 1990, Frankle et al 1999, King 2004. Reconstruction of the radial head is usually performed using a miniscrew or miniplate system (Mason 1954, Sanchez-Sotelo et al 2000, Ring et al 2002. More recently, absorbable pins have been developed (Hirvensalo et al 1990, Esser et al 1995, Rehm et al 1997.…”

Comparative study of radial head resection and prosthetic replacement in surgical release of stiff elbows

“…Primary radial head resection has been considered as the treatment of choice for displaced and comminuted fractures of the radial head [19,20]. Resection of the radial head following trauma affords satisfactory long-term results.…”

Arthroplasty in Elbow Fracture Treatment

“…Since prosthetic loosening and secondary surgery rates in patients treated with radial head replacement are not negligible the question is if the radial head must always be replaced. There are reports of radial head fractures combined with elbow dislocation (Mason IV) treated with radial head resection and ligament repair (Sanchez-Sotelo et al 2000, Herbertsson et al 2009). The aim in paper III was to evaluate the need for radial head replacement in the specific context of Mason IV fracture dislocations by comparing the functional and radiographic results of two treatment strategies, radial head replacement or radial head resection.…”

“…Repair of the lateral ligament will prevent postero-lateral rotatory instability (O'Driscoll et al 1991). When keeping to the treatment principles above, late elbow instability is a rare event but an increased valgus carrying angle develops over time in patients treated with radial head resection (Sanchez-Sotelo et al 2000, Antuna et al 2010. Furthermore the frequency of degenerative changes is high and proximal migration of the radius is seen but functional results are reportedly good in most cases (Herbertsson et al 2009, Antuna et al 2010, Karlsson et al 2010.…”

“…Resection of the radial head and lateral collateral ligament repair in Mason IV fracture dislocation has been included in several reports and appears to have yielded good functional results with a low frequency of residual instability, but secondary osteoarthritic changes are seen in most patients (Broberg and Morrey 1987, Sanchez-Sotelo et al 2000, Herbertsson et al 2009, Karlsson et al 2010.…”