Abstract
Radial head arthroplasty is indicated in patients with complex pattern of radial head fractures. Restoration of radiocapitellar contact is a key point of the treatment. Capitellum wear due to the use of implant arthroplasty remains a concern. Several systems of classification have been described for radial head fractures, including injuries of bone and ligaments. Prosthetic models for radial head replacement can be divided into (1) silicone prostheses, (2) unipolar and bipolar, (3) monoblock and modular, (4) anatomical and non-anatomical, and (5) cemented and press-fit. Arthroplasty is indicated for Mason type III and IV radial head fractures. The goal of arthroplasty is the restoration of radiocapitellar stability, preservation of range of motion, and preservation of appropriate radial length in patients with complex radial head fractures.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Herbertsson P, Josefsson PO, Hasserius R, et al. Fractures of the radial head and neck treated with radial head excision. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004;86(9):1925–30.
Ikeda M, Oka Y. Function after early radial head resection for fracture: a retrospective evaluation of 15 patients followed for 3–18 years. Acta Orthop Scand. 2000;71(2):191–4.
Morrey BF, Tanaka S, An KN. Valgus stability of the elbow. A definition of primary and secondary constraints. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1991;265:187–95.
Morrey BF, An KN, Stormont TJ. Force transmission through the radial head. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1988;70(2):250–6.
Bryce CD, Armstrong AD. Anatomy and biomechanics of the elbow. Orthop Clin North Am. 2008;39(2):141–54.
Van Riet RP, Morrey BF, O’Driscoll SW, et al. Associated injuries complicating radial head fractures: a demographic study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005;441:351–5.
Ring D. Radial head fracture: open reduction-internal fixation or prosthetic replacement. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2011;20(Suppl 2):S107–12.
Kaas L, Struijs PA, Ring D, et al. Treatment of mason type II radial head fractures without associated fractures or elbow dislocation: a systematic review. J Hand Surg Am. 2012;37(7):1416–21.
Davidson PA, Moseley JB Jr, Tullos HS. Radial head fracture. A potentially complex injury. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1993;297:224–30.
Moro JK, Werier J, MacDermid JC, et al. Arthroplasty with a metal radial head for unreconstructable fractures of the radial head. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2001;83(8):1201–11.
Harrington IJ, Sekyi-Otu A, Barrington TW, et al. The functional outcome with metallic radial head implants in the treatment of unstable elbow fractures: a long-term review. J Trauma. 2001;50(1):46–52.
Shore BJ, Mozzon JB, MacDermid JC, et al. Chronic posttraumatic elbow disorders treated with metallic radial head arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90(2):271–80.
Mason ML. Some observations on fractures of the head of the radius with a review of one hundred cases. Br J Surg. 1954;42(172):123–32.
Johnston GW. A follow-up of one hundred cases of fracture of the head of the radius with a review of the literature. Ulster Med J. 1962;31:51–6.
Broberg MA, Morrey BF. Results of treatment of fracture-dislocations of the elbow. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1987;216:109–19.
Hotchkiss RN. Displaced fractures of the radial head: internal fixation or excision? J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1997;5(1):1–10.
Ring D. Displaced, unstable fractures of the radial head: fixation vs. replacement—what is the evidence? Injury. 2008;39(12):1329–37.
Stuffmann E, Baratz ME. Radial head implant arthroplasty. J Hand Surg. 2009;34A:745–54.
Grewal R, MacDermid JC, Faber KJ, et al. Comminuted radial head fractures treated with a modular metallic radial head arthroplasty Study of outcomes. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(10):2192–200.
Pfaeffle HJ, Stabile KJ, Li ZM, et al. Reconstruction of the interosseous ligament restores normal forearm compressive load transfer in cadavers. J Hand Surg. 2005;30(2):319–25.
Akesson T, Herbertsson P, Josefsson PO, Hasserius R, Besjakov J, Karlsson MK. Primary nonoperative treatment of moderately displaced two-part fractures of the radial head. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(9):1909–14.
Chen X, Wang SC, Cao LH, Yang GQ, Li M, Su JC. Comparison between radial head replacement and open reduction and internal fixation in clinical treatment of unstable, multi-fragmented radial head fractures. Int Orthop. 2011;35(7):1071–6.
Yan M, Ni J, Song D, Ding M, Liu T, Huang J. Radial head replacement or repair for the terrible triad of the elbow: which procedure is better? ANZ J Surg. 2015;85(9):644–8.
Monica JT, Mudgal CS. Radial head arthroplasty. Hand Clin. 2010;26(3):403–10.
Giannicola G, Sacchetti FM, Antonietti G, Piccioli A, Postacchini R, Cinotti G. Radial head, radiocapitellar and total elbow arthroplasties: A review of recent literature. Injury. 2014;45:428–36.
Petscavage JM, HA AS, Chew FS. Radiologic review of total elbow, radial head, and capitellar re- surfacing arthroplasty. Radiographics. 2012;32(1):129–49.
Mackay I, Fitzgerald B, Miller JH. Silastic replacement of the head of the radius in trauma. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1979;61(4):494–7.
Pomianowski S, Morrey BF, Neale PG, Park MJ, O’Driscoll SW, An KN. Contribu- tion of monoblock and bipolar radial head prostheses to valgus stability of the elbow. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2001;83-A(12):1829–34.
Heijink A, Morrey BF, van Riet RP, O’Driscoll SW, Cooney WP III. Delayed treatment of elbow pain and dysfunction following Essex-Lopresti injury with metallic radial head replacement: a case series. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2010;19(6):929–36.
Popovic N, Lemaire R, Georis P, Gillet P. Midterm results with a bipolar radial head prosthesis: radio- graphic evidence of loosening at the bone-cement interface. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(11):2469–76.
Judet T, Garreau de Loubresse C, Piriou P, Charnley G. A floating prosthesis for radial-head fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1996;78(2):244–9.
Madsen JE, Flugsrud G. Radial head fractures: indications and technique for primary arthroplas- ty. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2008;34:105–12.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Merolla, G., Padolino, A., Paladini, P., Porcellini, G. (2020). Indications for Radial Head Arthroplasty and Classification of Current Implants. In: Castoldi, F., Giannicola, G., Rotini, R. (eds) Elbow Arthroplasty . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14455-5_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14455-5_22
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-14454-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-14455-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)