Comparison of Primary Radial Head Replacement and ORIF (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation) in Mason Type III Fractures: A Retrospective Evaluation in 72 Elderly Patients

Background

Radial head fractures occur in approximately 33% of elbow fractures. Mason proposed the first classification of radial head fractures in 1954 [1] and this is currently the most widely used classification. The surgical methods for treatment of complex fractures include open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), radial head excision, and replacement of the radial head. Lindenhovius [2] found that radial head excision may lead to a higher risk of complications such as symptoms in the wrist, increased elbow valgus deformity, and degenerative arthritis when compared to ORIF. Coincident with the rapid development of modern techniques and new implants has been a great revolution in the field of treatment for comminuted radial head fractures. The radial head has increasingly been found to play an important role in the stability of the elbow joint as well as the forearm. Currently there are 2 major surgical methods for patients who sustain unstable comminuted radial head fractures: prosthesis replacement and ORIF. Our main purpose in this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of these 2 methods by evaluating the postoperative function of the whole elbow joint and the forearm.

Material and Methods

SURGICAL TECHNIQUES:

Replacement patients were placed in the supine position with the affected extremity in abduction; they received local anesthesia at the same time the pneumatic tourniquet was applied. A routine posterolateral approach was used to expose the annular ligament through a posterolateral capsular incision. The annular ligament was incised transversely and then the neck of the proximal radius was osteotomized in the plane approximately 5 mm above the biceps tuberosity. The prostheses from Wright Medical Technology, Memphis, TN, USA were tried from the small to the large size until the appropriate size was determined. Radiographic and clinical examinations were also performed to confirm the suitability of the prostheses and the stability of the elbow joint and radial neck. The annular ligament was repaired with non-absorbable sutures (Ethicon, Johnson & Johnson Company, Europe).

The ORIF treatment group was treated using an AO locking steel plate secured with screws. All ORIF and arthroplasty procedures were performed by the same surgeon. Celecoxib (Celebrex, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Limited, USA) therapy (200 mg b.i.d.) was used in both groups. All patients began active flexion-extension movement rehabilitation 2 days after surgery.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

The Broberg and Morrey System [3–5], considered the most authoritative functional evaluation score scale for the elbow, was utilized to complete the postoperative clinical examination. This system includes 4 criteria: range of motion, functional stability, grip strength, and pain. The total score ranges from 0 to 100. The range of flexion-extension and rotation of the elbow were measured using a goniometer. X-ray was used to assess the healing progress of the fractures and the apposition of the joints. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to quantify patients’ pain. The VAS consists of a 10-cm line with an anchor at each end; 0 represents no pain and 10 indicates unbearable pain. Each patient was asked to make a mark to represent the level of pain; the score was then calculated according to the length between the mark and the 0 point (total 10). Descriptive analyses were carried out using frequencies, means, and standard deviations. Differences between the 2 treatment groups with satisfactory outcomes were compared using the Fisher’s exact test. A p value of 0.05 was assumed as statistical significance. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 10.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

All patients were followed for an average of 12.7±1.28 months (range, 10–15.6 months). The replacement group, consisting of 37 patients who had undergone radial head replacement treatment, was followed for an average of 13.8±1.92 months. Based on the elbow functional evaluation criteria score described by Broberg and Morrey [3], the results were as follows: excellent results were achieved in 29 cases, good results in 7, fair results in 1, and poor results in 0. No instances of heterotopic ossification or radial nerve injuries were detected postoperatively. In contrast, the mean follow-up time of the ORIF group (35 cases with open reduction internal fixation) was 14.5±1.31 months, with excellent results in 24 cases, good in 9, fair in 2, and poor in 0. The results in excellent and good categories were considered as satisfactory outcomes and those in the fair or poor groups were considered to be unsatisfactory [3]. The outcome was satisfactory in 78.4% of the patients in the replacement treatment group and in 68.6% of the patients in the ORIF treatment group. All the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Using the VAS, we calculated an average of 2.25±0.16 for patients in the replacement treatment group and 1.67±0.21 for patients in the ORIF treatment group. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). However, the differences between groups in elbow flexion-extension and forearm rotation angles were not statistically significant (P>0.05) (Table 1).

Discussion

Because the new standards emphasize a greater level of satisfactory postoperative function after radial head fractures, ORIF treatment is widely used, but the radial head prosthesis replacement procedure is used only in selected cases. Radial head fractures in elderly patients are mostly Mason type III and IV. Some authors believe that the radial head is a necessary component of the humeroradial joint and that it can provide stability to the distal ulnoradial joint [2,6]. Underlying disease such as osteoporosis and diabetes can impede surgical recovery in elderly patients. In our study we compared 2 surgical methods (ORIF and PR) in 72 elderly patients with Mason type III fractures. Results showed that, according to the Broberg and Morrey elbow scores (Table 2), the outcome of replacement surgery was better than with ORIF treatment, and the difference between them was statistically significant in the short-term (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in range of motion and other outcomes. Several authors note that the radial head prosthesis is a safe and effective method for the treatment and management of severe radial head fractures, at least in the short-term [7–10].

Recent studies have proven the advantages of radial head replacement, and there has not been any evidence of complications such as osteoporosis of the radius or dislocation that were directly related to the prosthesis replacement. Lack of relevant anatomical knowledge, imperfect surgical instruments, and unskilled surgeons are the main iatrogenic factors that have led to an unfavorable prognosis for radial head fractures [11]. A recent meta-analysis revealed a lower malunion rate using unreamed intramedullary nailing rather than external fixation for the treatment of Gustilo grade III tibial fractures [12].

Some surgeons believe that ORIF should be attempted initially, followed by prosthesis replacement if the initial outcome proves unsatisfactory. The contraction of nearby soft tissue scars caused by multiple operations, however, may result in poor resultant function of the elbow. Repeat surgical intervention may also increase the risk of heterotopic ossification. Because of these drawbacks, we prefer radial head prosthesis replacement for elderly patients with Mason type III radial head fractures.

There are some limitations to our study. First, the sample size in our study was not sufficiently large, which could increase the probability of false-positive or false-negative results. Second, because this was a retrospective study, it was difficult for us to evaluate the differences between the PR and ORIF groups. Third, because the decision to perform PR or ORIF depended on each patient’s condition and was a joint decision between the patient and doctor, this selection process may introduce substantial bias into the study.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that radial head prosthesis replacement treatment is superior to ORIF treatment for the treatment of elderly patients with Mason type III radial head fractures. Prosthesis replacement provides better stability and range of flexion and extension motion at the elbow. However, the prostheses are prone to problems such as aging, loosening, and wear. No information is available regarding the durability of this construct because this new technique has only been in clinical use for a relatively short time. A longer-term follow-up study will be needed to reach more definitive conclusions regarding the use of radial head prosthesis in elderly patients.