Short term comparative study of fixation versus replacement in the treatment of mason type iii radial head fractures

Abstract

Background: Radial head fractures accounts for one third of elbow fractures. The treatment of communited, unstable fractures which often have a worst prognosis is still controversial. The objective of this study was to compare replacement of the radial head by metal prostheses with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for the treatment of Mason type 3 radial head fractures. Materials and Methods: A prospective randomised controlled trial was employed to investigate 30 patients with Mason type 3 radial head fractures, from June 2016to June 2018.The patients were randomized to two groups: the ORIF group and the radial head replacement group. Over the next two years, follow-up assessments recorded. The overall functional outcome was rated using Broberg and Morrey’s rating system. Result: The outcome was considered to be satisfactory if the result was good or excellent and unsatisfactory if it was fair or poor. The outcome was satisfactory in 86.6% of patients in the replacement group and in 66.7% of patients in the ORIF group. Conclusion: Compared with open reduction and internal fixation, radial head replacement with a metal prostheses resulted in favorable joint function for type 3 Mason fractures.