Salvage of failed resection arthroplasties of the distal radioulnar joint using a new ulnar head prosthesis.

Twenty-three patients with painful instability following total or partial resection of the ulnar head were treated using a new ulnar head prosthesis combined with a simple soft tissue repair. Stability and marked symptomatic improvement were achieved in all patients. With a mean follow-up period of 27 months, this improvement has been maintained in all but 1 patient, whose prosthesis had to be removed because of a low-grade infection. These results suggest that the use of a prosthesis is a satisfactory way to restore stability and relieve secondary symptoms that may be associated with partial or total excision of the ulnar head.