The authors describe arthroscopic radial head resection in patients with po
st-traumatic arthritis after fractures of the radial head or in patients wi
th rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow joint, as an expanded indication for e
lbow arthroscopy. Arthroscopic radial head resection allows the surgeon to
deal with the intrinsic joint pathology as well as with accompanying; sympt
oms such as synovitis, capsular contracture, or loose bodies. The portals u
sed are the proximal medial, anterolateral, and the midlateral portal. The
anterior three quarters of the radial head and 2 to 3 mm of the radial neck
are resected with the stone-cutting abrader in the anterolateral portal an
d the arthroscope in the proximal medial portal. For resection of the poste
rior portion of the radial head, the abrader may be transferred to the midl
ateral portal. This permits resection of the remnants of the radial head po
steriorly and also at the proximal radioulnar joint. Arthroscopic treatment
allows the patient to begin and maintain an aggressive postoperative physi
cal therapy program immediately after surgery, thus decreasing the risk of
anterior scarring and reoccurring contracture of the capsule of the elbow j
oint.