Radial head arthroplasty
While most radial head fractures can be treated well without any surgery, sometimes the pieces are too small and too displaced to heal well. While these can occasionally be pieced back together and fixed with screws and plates, sometimes the best option is to replace the radial head entirely with a metal implant.
Radial head replacement has the benefit of offering immediate mobility to help with regaining your range of motion. There is no need to allow the bone fragments to heal and we can proceed more aggressively and occupational therapy to prevent elbow stiffness, which is a common complication of the elbow fractures.
Well-placed Radial head replacements can last for a minimum of 10 to 15 years, if not a lifetime. They are durable and when properly installed, restore near normal function to a traumatized elbow.
