Coronoid Reconstruction Using the Excised Radial Head in Complex Elbow Trauma: A Surgical Tip

Abstract

Complex elbow trauma and instability are challenging injuries to treat (1). They can range from simple dislocations with purely ligamentous injury, which are usual stable injuries, to complex fracture-dislocations with gross instability (2). We present a case of a rare Monteggia Type IIA fracture with a comminuted radial head and coronoid fracture, and ulnohumeral dislocation, treated with open-reduction and internal fixation of the proximal ulna, radial head replacement, coronoid reconstruction using the excised radial head fragment, and lateral collateral ligament repair. Coronoid reconstruction using the excised radial head has only rarely been described in the orthopaedic literature (3-5), but our case is unique in that adequate stability of the elbow was achieved intraoperatively to permit immediate range of motion of the elbow.