Symptomatic proximal translation of the radius following radial head resection

Abstract

Eight patients with symptomatic proximal translation of the radius after having radial head resection for trauma were treated with a combination of immediate pinning of the radius to the ulna, silicone radial head replacement, or some form of ulnar shortening, including the Darrach procedure, formal ulnar shortening, or Suave-Kapandji fusion. Despite these techniques, all patients did not maintain effective relative length of the radius, exhibiting 3 mm or greater positive ulnar variance after treatment. Injuries to the central band of the interosseous membrane of the forearm probably do not heal with mechanical integrity. Without this structure, conventional methods of equalization of the radius and ulnar do not appear to be reliable. Current methods of treatment of acute longitudinal dissociation of the radius and ulna are inadequate.