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Implantology of Fractures of the Radial Head and Neck

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Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology

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Abstract

Fractures of the radial head and neck are some of the most common injuries at the elbow. They can be technically very challenging to fix, with some severely comminuted fractures being non-reconstructable. In these circumstances, radial head excision was historically the only option available to the surgeon but could result in elbow instability, proximal migration of the radius, or ulno-humeral arthritis. The use of prosthetic radial head replacement for non-reconstructable fractures has provided a solution that better restores the biomechanics of the elbow and forearm. Implant designs vary regarding material, intraprosthetic mobility (unipolar vs bipolar), implant modularity (monoblock or modular), and modes of stem fixation.

Options for fracture fixation range include Kirschner wires, screws, and plates. Modifications have been made to their design over the years to account for the unique anatomy and articulations of the radial head and neck, as misplaced or prominent devices can cause pain or mechanical block to movement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shoulder & Elbow Unit, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Brighton, UK

    Christopher Jukes, Margo Dirckx & Joideep Phadnis

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  1. Christopher Jukes
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  2. Margo Dirckx
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  3. Joideep Phadnis
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Correspondence to Christopher Jukes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NH Narayana Superspeciality and Multispeciality Hospitals, Howrah, West Bengal, India

    Arindam Banerjee

  2. Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Peter Biberthaler

  3. Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India

    Saseendar Shanmugasundaram

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, India

    Ravi Ganesh Bharadwaj

  2. Sri Dhaatri Orthopaedic, Maternity & Gynaecology Center, Vijayawada, India

    Srinivas B. S. Kambhampati

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Jukes, C., Dirckx, M., Phadnis, J. (2023). Implantology of Fractures of the Radial Head and Neck. In: Banerjee, A., Biberthaler, P., Shanmugasundaram, S. (eds) Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_70

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_70

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