Elbow Reconstruction
A 42-year-old man sustains a fall onto his outstretched hand. Radiographs show a comminuted radial head fracture with more than three articular fragments and associated elbow dislocation (terrible triad pattern). After closed reduction of the elbow, there remains significant valgus and longitudinal forearm instability. The surgeon determines that the radial head is not reconstructible. Regarding radial head replacement:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
The radial head is a secondary stabilizer to valgus stress (after the MCL) and the primary stabilize...
Radial head prostheses are available in monoblock (fixed head) and bipolar (mobile head) designs; ma...
Radial head excision is always preferred over replacement in unstable elbows; sizing is unimportant;...
Indications for radial head replacement include unreconstructible comminuted fractures (Mason III-IV...
Complications of radial head replacement include prosthesis loosening, capitellar erosion (especiall...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option