Radial Head Prosthesis with Interconnected Porosity Showing Low Bone Resorption Around the Stem

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Radial head arthroplasty is a commonly preferred treatment for complex, unreconstructable radial head fractures. Recent studies have raised the question of whether factors such as bone resorption may be related to failure. This observational, retrospective, multicenter, spontaneous, and non-profit study aims to assess radiological outcomes, focusing on bone resorption around the stem, for radial head replacement using a modular, cementless radial head prosthesis with interconnected porosity. <b>Methods</b>: A series of 42 cases was available for review. Patients underwent radial head arthroplasty using a three-dimensional-printed radial head prosthesis. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had undergone at least one follow-up between 6 and 15 months post-operatively. A scoring system to detect bone resorption was developed and administered by two independent evaluators. <b>Results</b>: Forty-two patients (14 males, 28 females), with an average age of 59 ± 11 years (range: 39-80 years), were analyzed with a minimum of six months' and a maximum of 32 months' follow-up. At follow-up, 50 radiological evaluations were collected, with 29 showing ≤3 mm and 12 showing 3-6 mm resorption around the stem. The average resorption was 3.5 mm ± 2.3. No correlation was found between the extent of resorption and the time of follow-up. The developed scoring system allowed for a high level of correlation between the evaluators' measurements of bone resorption. <b>Conclusions</b>: Radial head prosthesis with interconnected porosity provided a low stem resorption rate for patients after a radial head fracture at short-to-mid-term follow-up after the definition of a reliable and easy-to-use radiological-based classification approach. (Level of Evidence: Level IV).

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-08-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155439
Primary Topic
Elbow and Forearm Trauma Treatment
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article
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article

Radial Head Prosthesis with Interconnected Porosity Showing Low Bone Resorption Around the Stem

Carlo Zaolino, Carlo Cazzaniga, Marco Porta, Paolo Arrigoni et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Elbow and Forearm Trauma Treatment
article

Radial Head Prosthesis with Interconnected Porosity Showing Low Bone Resorption Around the Stem

Carlo Zaolino, Carlo Cazzaniga, Marco Porta, Paolo Arrigoni, Riccardo Accetta, Valeria Vismara, Alessandro Marinelli, Alberto Aliprandi, Enrico Guerra, Carlo Cardile, Emanuele Boero
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Radial head arthroplasty is a commonly preferred treatment for complex, unreconstructable radial head fractures. Recent studies have raised the question of whether factors such as bone resorption may be related to failure. This observational, retrospective, multicenter, spontaneous, and non-profit study aims to assess radiological outcomes, focusing on bone resorption around the stem, for radial head replacement using a modular, cementless radial head prosthesis with interconnected porosity. <b>Methods</b>: A series of 42 cases was available for review. Patients underwent radial head arthroplasty using a three-dimensional-printed radial head prosthesis. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had undergone at least one follow-up between 6 and 15 months post-operatively. A scoring system to detect bone resorption was developed and administered by two independent evaluators. <b>Results</b>: Forty-two patients (14 males, 28 females), with an average age of 59 ± 11 years (range: 39-80 years), were analyzed with a minimum of six months' and a maximum of 32 months' follow-up. At follow-up, 50 radiological evaluations were collected, with 29 showing ≤3 mm and 12 showing 3-6 mm resorption around the stem. The average resorption was 3.5 mm ± 2.3. No correlation was found between the extent of resorption and the time of follow-up. The developed scoring system allowed for a high level of correlation between the evaluators' measurements of bone resorption. <b>Conclusions</b>: Radial head prosthesis with interconnected porosity provided a low stem resorption rate for patients after a radial head fracture at short-to-mid-term follow-up after the definition of a reliable and easy-to-use radiological-based classification approach. (Level of Evidence: Level IV).

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(15)
University of Milan (IT), IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant'Ambrogio (IT), Istituto Ortopedico Gaetano Pini (IT), Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (IT), Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT), Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (IT), Ospedale Santa Corona (IT), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 75%
Elbow and Forearm Trauma Treatment
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