Temporary Cemented Spacer for Complex Radial Head Fractures: A Case Report.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Management of comminuted and displaced radial head fractures (Mason III), especially with dislocation (Mason IV) or Essex-Lopresti injury, is challenging.
• Current treatment options lack consensus, with radial head resection often used for irreparable fractures.
• There's a trend towards prosthetic implants for initial treatment to maintain elbow function and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case of temporary radial head replacement using a cemented spacer in a complex fracture.
• To evaluate the functional outcomes and tolerability of a cemented radial head spacer over 21 months.
• To identify an accessible operating room material for neutralizing forces in radial head fractures.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 46-year-old patient with a complex radial head fracture.
• Radial head resection followed by insertion of a cemented radial head spacer as temporary management.
• Functional status monitoring over a 21-month period.

Main Results:

• The cemented radial head spacer provided effective temporary management for a complex radial head fracture.
• The spacer was well-tolerated over an extended 21-month follow-up period.
• This approach offers an accessible alternative when definitive implants are unavailable.

Conclusions:

• Cemented radial head spacers can serve as a viable temporary solution for complex, irreparable radial head fractures.
• This method provides an easily accessible option in orthopedic settings.
• Extended follow-up suggests long-term tolerability of cemented spacers, an infrequently reported aspect.