THE USE OF FROZEN-ALLOGRAFT RADIAL HEAD REPLACEMENT FOR TREATMENT OF ESTABLISHED SYMPTOMATIC PROXIMAL TRANSLATION OF THE RADIUS - PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE IN 5 CASES

Five patients with disabling symptoms related to proximal translation (> 1 cm) of the radius following radial head excision (Essex-Lopresti lesion) were treated with implantation of a frozen-allograft radial he ad prosthesis. Following restoration of neutral ulnar variance at the wrist, a size-matched frozen radial head allograft was implanted and s ecured to the proximal radius with internal fixation. In three patient s, this was a two-stage procedure; radial length was restored graduall y using an Ilizarov external fixation device and the allograft was pla ced later. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at a mean follow-up time of 3 years (range, 1-7 years). All patients had relief of wrist and elbow pain and were satisfied with the outcome of the operation. Forearm rotation improved by a mean of 37 degrees and w rist motion improved by a mean of 45 degrees. Forearm reconstruction w ith frozen radial head allograft implantation may be a beneficial meth od of treatment for this difficult problem.