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Radial head arthroplasty: a historical perspective

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Abstract

There has been lively debate regarding the rationale behind the use of radial head arthroplasty (RHA) for more than 80 years. Currently, its primary indication is for treatment of non-reconstructible RH fractures. The first RH implant, released in 1941, was a ferrul cap used to prevent heterotopic ossification. Biomechanical studies in the 1980s stimulated a revolution in RHA design by promoting modular implants that replicated the native bony anatomy of the elbow. Subsequent data-driven evolution in design led to the creation of a variety of devices that also accommodated for common ligamentous injuries occurring at the time of RH fracture. Despite significant advances in our understanding of complex elbow instability, improvements in implant design have to make RHA the gold standard for treatment of non-reconstructible RH fractures. The challenge in the coming years will be to perform high-level clinical studies in order to obtain consensus regarding the most appropriate treatment for comminuted RH fractures.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. BF Morrey for sharing with us the photographs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Locomoteur, Hôpital Pierre-Paul Riquet, Place du Docteur Baylac, 31059, Toulouse, France

    Pierre Laumonerie, Nicolas Reina, Thuy Trang Pham, Nicolas Bonnevialle & Pierre Mansat

  2. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Meagan E. Tibbo

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  1. Pierre Laumonerie
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Contributions

Conception and design: Laumonerie

Acquisition of data: Laumonerie

Analysis and interpretation of data: all authors

Critically revising the article: all authors

Reviewed submitted version of manuscript: all authors

Approved the final version of the manuscript on behalf of all authors: Mansat

Administrative/ technical/ material support: Mansat

Study supervision: Mansat

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Correspondence to Pierre Laumonerie.

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Level of evidence V: Mechanism-based reasoning.

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Laumonerie, P., Tibbo, M.E., Reina, N. et al. Radial head arthroplasty: a historical perspective. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 43, 1643–1651 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-4082-9

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