Case reportRadiocapitellar hemiarthroplasty for radiocapitellar arthritis: A report of three cases
Section snippets
Materials and methods
Three patients have been treated at our institution with custom metallic capitellar resurfacing arthroplasty as part of a radiocapitellar hemiarthroplasty for radiocapitellar arthritis. In all cases, the radiocapitellar arthritis had developed owing to chronic longitudinal radioulnar dissociation. After Institutional Review Board approval was obtained, medical records were reviewed, and each patient was seen in the office for a physical examination and radiographic follow-up. Elbow function was
Patient 1
A 50-year-old, right-handed computer worker sustained a work-related, right-sided comminuted radial head fracture when he fell from a ladder. Radial head excision was performed at that time. Four months later, he experienced ulnar-sided wrist pain due to ulnocarpal abutment, which did not resolve with arthroscopic débridement of the triangular fibrocartilage and shortening of the distal ulna.
At 31 months after the injury, he presented with ulnocarpal impingement, instability of the distal
Discussion
Three cases are reported in which capitellar resurfacing arthroplasty as part of a radiocapitellar hemiarthroplasty was performed for symptomatic radiocapitellar arthritis in the setting of chronic longitudinal radioulnar dissociation. In the first and second patients, there was erosion and softening of the osteopenic capitellum from the metallic radial head prosthesis that led to painful degenerative changes at the capitellum. The capitellum perhaps had been softened because of the long period
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After failed radial head arthroplasty, what are the options? Risk factors and results of revisions in a multicenter study
2023, Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and TraumaRadial head replacement – A comprehensive review
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2022, JSES InternationalCitation Excerpt :Anconeous interposition and radial head resection are well-known salvage options; however, they have limitations because of the loss of the lateral column of the elbow.1,13 Newer salvage procedures include radiocapitellar hemiarthroplasty using a custom metallic capitellar resurfacing implant, prosthetic arthroplasty with a metal capitellar resurfacing implant, and a polyethylene-articulating surface.13,14,18,28 Although preliminary studies show promising results, no studies followed patients for longer than 6 years, and approximately one-third of patients required a second surgery.4,28
Elbow arthroplasty
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2019, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow SurgeryCitation Excerpt :The outcome data after RCA are based on relatively small series. Published results are generally good to excellent in terms of pain relief.3,5,9,10,12 We found similar results in our patients, with a significant improvement in pain scores but not in ROM.