CLINICO-RADIOLOGICAL OUTCOMES OF RADIAL HEAD EXCISION VERSUS REPLACEMENT: A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background: Radial head fractures account for approximately one-third of adult elbow fractures and are essential for preserving elbow stability. Although open reduction and internal fixation is favored for minor fractures, the treatment of comminuted radial head fractures (Masontype III and IV) is contentious, with excision and prosthetic replacement as the primary alternatives.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of radial head excision versus replacement in cases of comminuted radial head fractures.

Methodology:- A retrospective comparison study was performed at R.L. Jalappa Hospital in Kolar from May 2022 to April 2024. Twenty-six skeletally mature patients (aged 20 60 years) with Mason type III or IV fractures were included, with 13 undergoing radial head removal and 13 receiving replacement. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, whereas radiographic outcomes examined joint stability, degenerative alterations, and complications. Data were evaluated with SPSS version 25.