Outcomes of Radial Head Implants in Total Elbow Arthroplasty

Description

In this focused presentation by Nicholas Chang, the critical examination of radial head implants in total elbow arthroplasty is explored. Chang expresses deep gratitude to the Council of Orthopaedic Associates (COA) and especially to his mentor, Dr. Graham King, while elucidating on the significant increase in total elbow arthroplasties over recent decades despite ongoing debates regarding the management of the radial head. A detailed analysis of the types of total elbow implants, particularly linked and unlinked designs, reveals variations in performance and complications, including the biomechanical challenges posed by radial head excision. The study offers a retrospective review addressing the clinical and radiographic outcomes of radial head implants from 2001 to 2016, illuminating important aspects such as the radiocapitellar alignment and common complications like radial head sleeve failure. The results indicate good clinical outcomes with a survivorship rate of 81% for radial heads over a ten-year span, yet also highlight issues of dissociation and symptomatology that influence treatment decisions. Chang underscores the need for careful patient selection and innovative designs in radial head implants to enhance surgical outcomes, culminating in his insistence on the importance of ongoing research and consensus in this domain.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-220826

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