ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Chirurgica 2017 February;72(1):31-5

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4733.16.07147-9

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Loose-fitting radial head prosthesis replacement for treatment of comminuted fracture of the radial head

Wu HAO, Lu CHENG, Chen MING ✉

XuZhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical College, Affiliated XuZhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou Clinical School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China

BACKGROUND: We investigated the curative effects of using loose-fitting radial head prosthesis replacement to treat unstable comminuted fracture of radial head.
METHODS: From January 2010 to August 2012, radial head prosthesis replacement was used to treat eight cases of Mason’s type III or IV radial head fractures. Three cases were in left side and 5 cases were in right side. Using the Mason criteria, 6 cases were classified as type III and 2 cases as type IV. All patients had fresh fractures. Operations were scheduled after swelling was subsided and we monitored all cases for 12 to 20 months.
RESULTS: According to the Mayo evaluation criteria, we had excellent results in 5 cases, and good results in 3 cases. No infection, no heterotopic ossification, and no nerve injuries were observed in these cases. No symptoms of nerve injury were detected. Flexion and extension of elbow joint was from 20° to 100° (average=70.6°). Forearm pronation was from 0° to 70° (average=53.8°); supination was from 0 to 60° (average=35°).
CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that treatment of comminuted radial head fractures with loose-fitting radial head prosthesis replacement produced satisfactory results.

KEY WORDS: Radial heads - Fractures, bone - Fractures, comminuted