Radial head arthroplasty yielded high complication, revision rates
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Radial head arthroplasty resulted in a high rate of complications and subsequent revision surgery among patients with radial head fractures, according to published results.
Researchers assessed demographic variables, injury and procedure-related characteristics, radiographic findings, complications and revision procedures among 122 patients who underwent radial head arthroplasty for unreconstructible radial head fractures between 1994 and 2014. Researchers performed Cox regression analysis to identify risk factors associated with revision surgery following radial head arthroplasty.
Researchers found Mason-Johnston type IV injuries were the most prevalent (65% of patients) and 72.4% of patients had one or more associated osseous or ligamentous injuries. Among the implanted prostheses, 52.8% were categorized as rigidly fixed (Mathys prosthesis) and 47.2% were categorized as loosely fixed (Evolve, Wright Medical Technology), according to results.
Results showed 22.8% of elbows underwent revision surgery at a median of 1.1 years, with revision surgery performed in 60.7% of elbows within the first 2 years. Researchers found 30.9% of patients experienced complications and that painful implant loosening was reported as the most common reason for revision surgery. Revision surgery was significantly associated with workers’ compensation claims and the use of an external fixator, according to results of a univariate Cox regression analysis.
“Revision rates following [radial head arthroplasty] RHA for unreconstructible [radial head fractures] RHFs are high; the most common cause for revision surgery is painful implant loosening,” the authors wrote. “Revision surgeries are predominantly performed within the first 2 years after implantation, and surgeons should be aware that workers’ compensation claims and the use of an external fixator for injury management are associated with revision surgery.”
Collapse
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts