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RADIAL head arthroplasty: does ligaments repair influence outcomes? A minimum two years follow-up radiographic multi-center study

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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The current indication for comminuted radial head fractures is radial head arthroplasty (RHA). The main purpose of this study was to investigate any statistical differences in terms of prosthesis revision or removal and radiographic degenerative changes by comparing patients who underwent RHA and ligaments repair to those who underwent only RHA implant at minimum two years follow-up. The secondary aim was to delineate a trend profile of RHA implants.

Methods

All patients who underwent RHA surgery for traumatic pathology between January 2012 and December 2017 were eligible. Two researchers independently and retrospectively reviewed the patients’ charts and collected the following data: type of prosthesis, associated surgical procedures and revision surgery. They also looked for any radiographic sign of prosthesis loosening, overstuffing, capitellar osteopenia, heterotopic ossification and degenerative changes. No clinical evaluation was performed.

Results

In 6 years, 124 RHA were implanted (74 female, 50 male, mean age 56). The main diagnoses were: terrible triad, trans-olecranon fracture and isolated radial head fracture. It was found no significant statistical difference between the 2 groups; nevertheless, the cohort of patients that underwent ligaments repair had a lower revision rate in comparison with the other. Suture of the annular ligament seems to be critical. The overall revision rate was 10.5%.

Conclusion

This multi-center study found no evidence that ligaments repair, as an associated surgical procedure, improves RHA longevity, except for annular ligament. Nevertheless, it seems to prevent degenerative changes at midterm follow-up.

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Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article. Further data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

All the authors (Galavotti C, Padovani S, Nosenzo A, Menozzi M, Maniscalco P, Concari G, Villani C, Sabetta E, Belluati A, Monesi M, Massari L, Pari C, Cavaciocchi M, Calderazzi M, Colozza A), their immediate family and any research foundation with which they are affiliated, did not receive any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ortopedia e Traumatologia POC, ASST Cremona, Viale Concordia 1, 26100, Cremona, Cremona, Italy

    C. Galavotti

  2. Ortopedia e Traumatologia Ospedale Degli Infermi Faenza, Viale Stradone, 9, 48018, Faenza, Ravenna, Italy

    S. Padovani, M. Cavaciocchi & A. Colozza

  3. Clinica Ortopedica, A.O.U. Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126, Parma, Parma, Italy

    A. Nosenzo, M. Menozzi & F. Calderazzi

  4. Ortopedia e Traumatologia AUSL Piacenza, Via Taverna Giuseppe 49, 29121, Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy

    P. Maniscalco

  5. UOC Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Ospedale di Vaio Fidenza, Via Don Enrico Tincati 5, 43036, Parma, Parma, Italy

    G. Concari

  6. UOC Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Ospedale S. Maria Nuova Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    C. Villani & E. Sabetta

  7. Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Ospedale S. Maria Delle Croci, Viale Vincenzo Randi 5, 48121, Ravenna, Italy

    A. Belluati & C. Pari

  8. Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Ospedale M. Bufalini Cesena, Viale G. Ghirotti 286, 47521, Cesena, Forlì-Cesena, Italy

    M. Monesi

  9. Dipartimento Ortopedia e Traumatologia, A.O.U., Via Aldo Moro 7 Cona, 44124, Ferrara, Italy

    L. Massari

Authors
  1. C. Galavotti
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  2. S. Padovani
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  3. A. Nosenzo
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  4. M. Menozzi
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  5. P. Maniscalco
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  6. G. Concari
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  7. C. Villani
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  8. E. Sabetta
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  9. A. Belluati
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  10. M. Monesi
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  11. L. Massari
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  12. C. Pari
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  13. M. Cavaciocchi
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  14. F. Calderazzi
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  15. A. Colozza
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and data analysis were performed by CG and SP. The first draft of the manuscript was written by CG and FC. All authors commented to previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Galavotti.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Consent to participate

All the patients provided written informed consent upon the study enrollment.

Consent for publish

All the patients provided written informed consent for the publication of any associated data and accompanying images.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Regional Ethic Committee with number of protocol 11396—14/03/2019.

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Galavotti, C., Padovani, S., Nosenzo, A. et al. RADIAL head arthroplasty: does ligaments repair influence outcomes? A minimum two years follow-up radiographic multi-center study. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 32, 405–411 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-021-02979-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-021-02979-1

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