Short term results of hemiarthroplasty of radiohumeral joint in treatment of radial head fractures

Abstract

Radial head fractures are the most common elbow fractures [1,2]. They are most often associated with indirect trauma – fall on outstretched hand with elbow in extension and forearm in pronation [6,18]. Some of these fractures, more precisely the nondisplaced or minimally displaced ones, can be treated nonoperatively [19,20,22], but most require surgery. When treating patient with radial head fracture, surgeon should choose the most effective way of treatment that can provide quick stabilization of the elbow and allow early rehabilitation in the form of passive and active movement [21]. Formerly the operative armamentarium consisted of only open reduction with internal fixation of the fracture and radial head resection [2]. Many complications after radial head resection forced searching for a way of alternative treatment of severely displaced comminuted fractures [3,23,24]. Hence the idea of hemiarthroplasty of radiohumeral joint was born. There were thirteen radial head arthroplasties performed in our department. Only patients with Mason type III and IV fractures qualified for this type of treatment. Results indicate that hemiarthroplasty of radiohumeral joint is a method worth considering when treating patients with complex radial head fractures.