George S Athwal1, Dominique M Rouleau2, Joy C MacDermid1, Graham J W King1. 1. Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care, University of Western Ontario, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, ON N6A 4L6, Canada. E-mail address for G.S. Athwal: gathwal@uwo.ca. 2. University of Montreal, Hôpital Sacré-Coeur, 5400 Boulevard Gouin Ouest, Montreal, QC H4J 1C5, Canada.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This article describes a technique in which measurements are obtained from radiographs of the contralateral, normal elbow to predict the magnitude of overlengthening resulting from use of a metallic radial head prosthesis. STEP 1 OBTAIN BILATERAL ELBOW RADIOGRAPHS: Obtain bilateral digital anteroposterior radiographs of the elbows that are orthogonal to the forearm in 45° of flexion and neutral forearm rotation. STEP 2 PERFORM RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE CONTRALATERAL NORMAL ELBOW: Draw the angle on the radiograph of the normal elbow. STEP 3 PERFORM RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE RADIAL HEAD IMPLANT: Draw the same lines and angle and perform the same measurements on the implant radiograph. STEP 4 CALCULATE RADIAL HEAD IMPLANT LENGTH: The virtual length of the native radial head implant (L-NRH) is subtracted from the virtual length of the radial head implant (L-RHI), which results in the magnitude of the radial head implant overlengthening in millimeters: (L-RHI) - (L-NRH) = overlengthening. RESULTS: The radiographic measurement technique was validated in a cadaveric study. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: IndicationsContraindicationsPitfalls & Challenges.
INTRODUCTION: This article describes a technique in which measurements are obtained from radiographs of the contralateral, normal elbow to predict the magnitude of overlengthening resulting from use of a metallic radial head prosthesis. STEP 1 OBTAIN BILATERAL ELBOW RADIOGRAPHS: Obtain bilateral digital anteroposterior radiographs of the elbows that are orthogonal to the forearm in 45° of flexion and neutral forearm rotation. STEP 2 PERFORM RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE CONTRALATERAL NORMAL ELBOW: Draw the angle on the radiograph of the normal elbow. STEP 3 PERFORM RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE RADIAL HEAD IMPLANT: Draw the same lines and angle and perform the same measurements on the implant radiograph. STEP 4 CALCULATE RADIAL HEAD IMPLANT LENGTH: The virtual length of the native radial head implant (L-NRH) is subtracted from the virtual length of the radial head implant (L-RHI), which results in the magnitude of the radial head implant overlengthening in millimeters: (L-RHI) - (L-NRH) = overlengthening. RESULTS: The radiographic measurement technique was validated in a cadaveric study. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: IndicationsContraindicationsPitfalls & Challenges.
Authors: Simon G Frank; Ruby Grewal; James Johnson; Kenneth J Faber; Graham J W King; George S Athwal Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2009-07 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: F Van Glabbeek; R P Van Riet; J A Baumfeld; P G Neale; S W O'Driscoll; B F Morrey; K-N An Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: Daphne M Beingessner; Cynthia E Dunning; Karen D Gordon; James A Johnson; Graham J W King Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2004-08 Impact factor: 5.284