The minimum follow-up required for radialhead arthroplasty a meta-analysis

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume Vol. 99-B; no. 12; pp. 1561 - 1570
• Main Authors: Laumonerie, P, Reina, N, Kerezoudis, P, Declaux, S, Tibbo, M E, Bonnevialle, N, Mansat, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Joint surgery
• ISSN: 2049-4394; 2049-4408
• DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.99B12.BJJ-2017-0543.R2

AimsThe primary aim of this study was to define the standard minimumfollow-up required to produce a reliable estimate of the rate ofre-operation after radial head arthroplasty (RHA). The secondaryobjective was to define the leading reasons for re-operation.Materials and MethodsFour electronic databases, between January 2000 and March 2017were searched. Articles reporting reasons for re-operation (GroupI) and results (Group II) after RHA were included. In Group I, ameta-analysis was performed to obtain the standard minimum follow-up,the mean time to re-operation and the reason for failure. In GroupII, the minimum follow-up for each study was compared with the standardminimum follow-up.ResultsA total of 40 studies were analysed: three were Group I and included80 implants and 37 were Group II and included 1192 implants. InGroup I, the mean time to re-operation was 1.37 years (0 to 11.25),the standard minimum follow-up was 3.25 years; painful looseningwas the main indication for re-operation. In Group II, 33 GroupII articles (89.2%) reported a minimum follow-up of <3.25 years.ConclusionThe literature does not provide a reliable estimate of the rateof re-operation after RHA. The reproducibility of results wouldbe improved by using a minimum follow-up of three years combinedwith a consensus of the definition of the reasons for failure afterRHA.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1561–70.