Excision or Silastic replacement for comminuted radial head fractures. A long-term follow-up.

This report comprises a follow-up of 39 patients after simple excision and 16 patients after Silastic replacement of the radial head for displaced comminuted fractures. Prostheses were used when similar fractures were associated with an unstable elbow. The excision group was followed up for 6.1 years on average, and the replacement group for 5.7 years. The objective result after simple excision was good in 55% of cases, fair in 26% and poor in 19%. The results in the replacement group were only 13% good, 38% fair, 37% poor and in 12% the prostheses had to be removed.