Elbow joint laxity after experimental radial head excision and lateral collateral ligament rupture: efficacy of prosthetic replacement and ligament repair.

The objectives of this experimental study were to investigate the effect of radial head excision and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) division on elbow joint laxity and to determine the efficacy of radial head prosthetic replacement and LCL repair. Valgus, varus, internal rotation, and external rotation of the ulna were measured during passive flexion-extension and application of a 0.75-Nm torque in 6 intact cadaveric elbows and after (1) either excision of the radial head or division of the LCL, (2) removal of both constraints, (3) isolated radial head prosthetic replacement, (4) isolated LCL repair, and (5) radial head replacement combined with LCL repair. Isolated radial head excision increased varus (mean, 4.8 degrees) and external rotatory laxity (mean, 7.1 degrees), as did isolated LCL division (mean, 14.1 degrees for varus; mean, 14.7 degrees for external rotation). After removal of both constraints, varus and external rotatory laxities were increased by 19.0 degrees and 20.1 degrees, respectively, compared with the intact specimens. Isolated radial head replacement reduced mean varus laxity to 14.6 degrees and mean external rotatory laxity to 14.8 degrees. Isolated LCL repair normalized varus laxity but resulted in a 2.9 degrees increase in external rotatory laxity. The combined procedures restored laxity completely. The radial head is a constraint to varus and external rotation in the elbow joint, functioning by maintaining tension in the LCL. Still, removal of both constraints induces severe laxity, and in this case, prosthetic replacement may substitute for the constraining capacity of the native radial head. The combination of LCL repair and radial head replacement restores laxity completely, but an isolated LCL repair performs almost as well, probably by compensating for the ligamentous tension lost from radial head excision.