Abstract
The effect of radial head resection on the distal radio-ulnar joint has been assessed in 22 wrists in 18 rheumatoid patients with synovectomized elbows. The average post-operative follow up was 4.2 years (range 7 month to 14.3 years) . At the time of the surgery 20 out of 22 wrists of limbs operated on showed by X-ray..
X-ray examination revealed the advancement in disease progress with various degrees. The average value of the variant of the distal ulna was +0.6mm before surgery, and +2.2mm after surgery. Although there is a significant difference between the two values, it is unexpectedly small. In the case in which the radial head was removed after the fracture, a tendency of proximal migration of the radius is reported. But in the rheumatoid cases such a tendency is not so obvious. It may be due to a muscle weakness because of the disease and also to the advanced disease in the wrist.
It can be concluded that in a rheumatoid case of an elbow joint synovectomy a radial head resection will not affect the function of the wrist or the diatal radio-ulnar joint. Even if there is a proximal migration of the radius to some extent, the progress of the destructive change of the disease will conceal the effect of radial migration.
