Functional outcomes of patients with comminuted radial head fracture undergoing radial head arthroplasty

Background: The functional stability of the elbow joint can be effectively restored in acute care for comminuted radial head fractures (RHFs) complicated with secondary ligamentous or bony injuries through the use of a metallic radial head implant. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of modular metallic radial head implant EVOLVE® prosthesis in restoring the functional range of motion and elbow joint stability in acute care. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the department of orthopedics at a tertiary-level care hospital in North India from April 2021 till March 2022. All consecutive patients above 18 years of age, with comminuted closed RHF, were included in the study. All underwent modular metallic head radial head implantation. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was used to measure functional outcomes. Results: We observed that MEPS at 1-month follow-up was 81.54 ± 11.18, which improved significantly at the 3rd-month follow-up to 87.24 ± 12.42 (P < 0.001). On the next follow-up at the 6th month, MEPS increased further to 92.14 ± 7.36, P < 0.001. At the final follow-up at the 6th month, MEPS was graded as excellent for 80%, good for 12%, fair for 4%, and poor for 4%. One patient had complex regional pain syndrome and one had joint stiffness. Conclusion: The use of a modular radial head prosthesis has shown promise in treating comminuted RHF by re-establishing elbow joint stability in acute setting. This study demonstrated promising short-to-midterm results for the modular radial head arthroplasty.

Meta-analysis of radial head arthroplasty versus open reduction and internal fixation for treating radial head fractures / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND; In the treatment of radial head fractures, complications such as nonunion and internal fixation are inevitable in open reduction and internal fixation, resulting in chronic pain and dysfunction of the elbow joint. In order to reduce surgical complications and improve the success rate of surgery, radial head replacement surgery came into being. OBJECTIVE; To systematically compare the effects of radial head arthroplasty and open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of Mason type III and IV radial head fractures by meta-analysis. METHODS: The search included clinical controlled studies published at home and abroad between 1999 and March 2019, with or without randomization and blinding. The databases included Embase, PubMed, Central, Cinahl, PQDT, CNKI, VIP, WanFang, Cochrane Library, and CBM. Magazine contents and references were manually retrieved to find grey references such as unpublished academic papers, and chapters in monographs. The language was not limited. All relevant articles were searched. If necessary, the articles were translated. The forearm rotation motion, forearm flexion mobility, postoperative joint function score, postoperative imaging evaluation results, postoperative complications and reversion cases were used as measurement outcomes so as to sufficiently compare the curative effects of arthroplasty and open reduction and internal fixation for treating Mason III type and IV of radial capitulum fracture. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) According to the above search strategy, 301 related articles were retrieved. (2) By reading the title and abstract, 146 irrelevant articles were excluded, and 155 related articles were screened initially. The full text was further read and screened strictly according to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, and finally seven foreign articles were included. (3) In the Beoberg-Morrey scoring system [95%C/ (7.96, 23.14), P < 0.000 1], flexion and extension range [95%C/ (3.72,13.13), P=0.000 4], forearm pronation activity [95%C/ (2.09, 3.18), P< 0.000 01], rotation range of motion [95%C/ (2.80, 17.45), P=0.007], radial head arthroplasty was superior to open reduction and internal fixation. The number of postoperative complications in the radial head arthroplasty was less than that in the open reduction and internal fixation group [95%C/ (0.15, 0.57), P=0.000 3]. (4) In summary, in the treatment of Mason type III and IV radial head fractures, radial head arthroplasty is superior to open reduction and internal fixation.

Complicaciones a mediano plazo de la prótesis monopolar modular de cabeza radial / Mid-term complications of the monopolar, modular radial head prosthesis

Resumen: Introducción: El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el tipo, la frecuencia y la gravedad de las complicaciones después de la implantación de la prótesis monopolar modular de cabeza radial. Material y métodos: Se revisaron retrospectivamente 47 pacientes con 48 prótesis de cabeza radial implantadas entre 2009 y 2017 durante una media de 43.55 meses (rango: 12-89). Resultados: Se implantó el mismo tipo de prótesis en cada paciente (Ascension Modular Radial Head) . La puntuación media obtenida en la clasificación Mayo Elbow Performance Score fue de 88.29 ± 9.9 puntos. Durante el seguimiento tres pacientes (6.25%) sufrieron dolor continuo. Doce casos (25.5%) mostraron sobredimensión radiológica, aunque sólo cinco fueron sintomáticos. Se detectó osificación heterotópica en 27 casos (57.4%), 11 pacientes (23.4%) desarrollaron rigidez postoperatoria, 19 casos (40.42%) mostraron osteólisis periprotésica, de los cuales siete fueron sintomáticos, 13 pacientes (27%) presentaron complicaciones: tres casos de infección, cuatro casos de aflojamiento sintomático, dos neuroapraxias, una inestabilidad y tres casos de sobredimensionamiento con rigidez asociada. Nueve pacientes (18.75%) fueron reintervenidos. Discusión: Presentamos 27% de complicaciones globales, principalmente relacionadas con la sobredimensión y el aflojamiento protésico y 19% de reintervenciones. Estos resultados son similares a los descritos en estudios previos con variaciones en función del tiempo de seguimiento. Asimismo, se requieren nuevos estudios para evaluar los resultados a largo plazo y la posible progresión de los hallazgos radiográficos. Conclusión: En conjunto, estos datos ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de mejoría tanto de la técnica quirúrgica como del diseño de los implantes.

Abstract: Introduction: The objective of this study is to assess the type, frequency and severity of complications after the implantation of the modular monopolar radial head prosthesis. Material and methods: Forty-seven patients with 48 radial head prostheses implanted between 2009 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were evaluated clinical and radiographically for a mean follow-up of 43.55 months (range: 12-89). Results: The same type of prosthesis was implanted in every patient (Ascension Modular Radial Head). The average score in the Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 88.29 ± 9.9 points. During the follow-up, three patients (6.25%) suffered from continuous pain. Twelve cases (25.5%) showed radiological oversizing, though only five were symptomatic. Heterotopic ossification was detected in twenty-seven cases (57.4%). Eleven patients (23.4%) developed postoperative stiffness. Nineteen cases (40.42%) showed periprosthetic osteolysis, from which seven were symptomatic. Thirteen patients (27%) developed surgery-related complications: three cases of infection, four cases of symptomatic loosening, two neurapraxies, one instability and three cases of oversizing with associated stiffness. Nine patients (18.75%) required reintervention. Discussion: Our study obtains a 27% of overall complications, mostly related to oversizing and prosthetic loosening, and 19% of reinterventions. These results are similar to those presented in previous studies, with variations depending on the time of follow-up. Further research is also required to evaluate long-term results and the potential progression of the radiographic findings. Conclusion: Taken together, these data stress the need for improvement in both the surgical technique and the design of the implants.

Ipsilateral proximal and distal radius fractures with unstable elbow joint: Which should we address first? / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Simultaneous ipsilateral fractures involving radial head and distal end of radius are uncommon. We present our thoughts on which fracture should be addressed first. A 68-year-old lady sustained an ipsilateral fracture of the right radial head and distal end of radius following a fall. Clinically her right elbow was posteriorly dislocated and right wrist was deformed. Plain radiographs showed an intraarticular fracture of the distal end of radius and a comminution radial head fracture with a proximally migrated radius. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no significant ligament injuries. We addressed her distal radius first with an anatomical locking plate followed by her radial head with a radial head replacement. Our rationale to treat the distal end radius: first was to obtain a correct alignment of Lister's tubercle and correct the distal radius height. Lister's tubercle was used to guide for the correct rotation of the radial head prosthesis. Correcting the distal end fracture radial height helped us with length selection of the radial head prosthesis and address the proximally migrated radial shaft and neck. Postoperative radiographs showed an acceptable reduction. The Cooney score was 75 at 3 months postoperatively, which was equivalent to a fair functional outcome.

The Short Term Results of Radial Head Arthroplasty with Unipolar Loose Fit Stem

PURPOSE: We report short-term results of radial head prosthesis using a unipolar loose fit stem in ten patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with Mason type three radial head fracture, who received unipolar radial head arthroplasty from February 2010 to June 2011, were evaluated (mean follow-up: 22 months, range: 18-30 months). Subjects consisted of five men and five women. Range of elbow motion was measured. Mayo elbow performance index (MEPI) score was used for functional evaluation and periodic radiological imaging was performed to evaluate the stability of implant. RESULTS: After an average follow-up of 22 months, elbow stability was maintained in all cases, and the average range of motion of elbow flexion and extension was 6 to 130 degrees. Average range of pronation and supination was 66 and 74 degrees, respectively. MEPI score was evaluated as excellent in seven cases, and good in three cases. On final follow-up, radiological assessment showed implant stability in all cases without evidence of dislocation, subluxation, arthritis, periprosthetic osteolysis or heterotopic ossification. CONCLUSION: Based on our short-term follow-up, radial head arthroplasty with unipolar loose fit stem is a useful method for obtaining satisfactory outcome for unreducible comminuted radial head fractures.