Video Gallery

Chapter 16 Video 1: Radiocapitellar Arthroplasty of the Elbow: Surgical Technique

July 02, 2016

Contributors: Matthias Vanhees, MD; Frederik Verstreken, MD; Roger P van Riet, MD

Lateral elbow hemi-arthroplasties have recently been used for the treatment of disorders limited to the radio-capitellar joint. There are several conditions that can lead to early osteoarthritis in young, active patients. For instance, osteochondritis dissecans and fractures can lead to degenerative changes to the radio-capitellar joint. In this video we clearly show the surgical technique for the radio-capitellar arthroplasty of the elbow. Through an extensor tendon split approach, anterior to the LCL, the radio-capitellar joint is exposed. First, an osteotomy of the radial neck is performed. Then a guide pin is drilled through the rotation axis of the distal humerus. The guide pin is used to position the capitellar cutting guide. Next, capitellar and radial head trial components are used to assess the correct size. The radial head component should be flush with the lesser sigmoid notch. Finally the capitellar en radial head components are cemented, and the extensor tendon split is closed. The goal of this video is to present a clear surgical technique for the radio-capitellar arthroplasty of the elbow. The video shows a stepwise approach with subtitles. After viewing this video, the surgeon should be able to fully understand the surgical technique for the radio-capitellar arthroplasty of the elbow.