SYMPTOMATIC PROXIMAL TRANSLATION OF THE RADIUS FOLLOWING RADIAL HEAD RESECTION

Eight patients with symptomatic proximal translation of the radius aft er having radial head resection for trauma were treated with a combina tion of immediate pinning of the radius to the ulna, silicone radial h ead replacement, or some form of ulnar shortening, including the Darra ch procedure, formal ulnar shortening, or Suave-Kapandji fusion. Despi te these techniques, all patients did not maintain effective relative length of the radius, exhibiting 3 mm of greater positive ulnar varian ce after treatment. Injuries to the central band of the interosseous m embrane of the forearm probably do not heal with mechanical integrity. Without this structure, conventional methods of equalization of the r adius and ulnar do not appear to be reliable. Current methods of treat ment of acute longitudinal dissociation of the radius and ulna are ina dequate.