Radial head fracture treated by resection. Long-term results.

Thirty-one patients who underwent resection of the radial head for fracture of the radial head were reviewed after an average of 17 years. These patients were divided into three groups according to the type of fracture and treatment: group 1 had undergone complete resection due to isolated radial head fracture, group 2 partial resection due to isolated fracture, and group 3 complete resection due to radial head fracture associated with other lesions in the same arm. The clinical results were satisfactory in 72% of the group 1 patients, none of the group 2 patients, and 60% of the group 3 patients. In 55% of the patients an increase in the valgus angulation of the elbow was observed, modest in most instances. In almost half of the patients, all of which had full range of elbow motion, a new radial head had formed. Eighty percent of the patients had clinically asymptomatic distal subluxation of the radioulnar joint. In most cases of isolated radial head fracture, complete resection yields satisfactory long-term results. Partial resection, on the other hand, has a high incidence of failure. The presence of other osteoarticular lesions in the same arm significantly reduces the chances of success.