Successful fixation of Mason type 2 radial head fractures using Meniscus Arrows

• Published in: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2014, Vol.22 (1), p.49-52
• Main Authors: Ottink, Dirk A., van Zutphen, Stefan W. A. M., van Doorn, Ron, Wouters, Diederick B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Adult; Aged; Classification; Elbow; Elbow Joint - surgery; Female; Fracture Fixation, Internal - instrumentation; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Humans; Internal Fixators; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Patients; Pronation; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Radiography; Radius Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Radius Fractures - physiopathology; Radius Fractures - surgery; Range of motion; Range of Motion, Articular; Supination; Trauma; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0942-2056; 1433-7347
• DOI: 10.1007/s00167-012-2193-1

Purpose Previous experience has revealed excellent outcomes when using the Meniscus Arrow (Conmed Linvatec Ltd., Tampere, Finland) bioabsorable meniscal repair system for the fixation of small fracture fragments. This study describes the results of the fixation of Mason type 2 radial head fractures with these Arrows in a prospective series of 21 patients. Methods Between 2006 and 2010, a total of 21 patients were treated with Meniscus Arrows for the fixation of Mason type 2 fractures of the radial head during an open procedure. Twenty-one, twenty and seventeen patients were followed up at 2 and 6 post-operative weeks, 18 weeks and 24 months, respectively. Radiographs were obtained during follow-up visits, and range of motion was classified according to the Weseley classification. Results At 24 post-operative months, 88 % of patients showed ‘excellent’ and 12 % showed ‘good’ results in terms of extension. All patients (100 %) showed ‘excellent’ results for flexion, supination and pronation. Uneventful healing of the fracture was observed in all patients. No complications were noted. Conclusion This study shows promising outcomes for the use of Meniscus Arrows as fixation devices in the treatment for Mason type 2 fractures of the radial head. Level of evidence Prospective therapeutic study, Level IV.