The proper management of radial head fractures is difficult and controversial. The radial head is intra-articular, part of the forearm ring and participates in both flexion and extension as well as in pronosupination. Our main goal in treating those fractures is anatomic restoration of the joint surface and early mobilization. Excision of the radial head, a well described procedure, may result in elbow instability and proximal migration of the radius. In this work we tried to avoid those complications by either conserving the head (ORIF) or by using a Radial head prosthesis.

Material and Methods: 20 Patients were enrolled into the study between 2003–2004. They were divided into 2 groups. 10 patients had ORIF and in patients the Corin Radial head prosthesis was used. Post-op all patients started immediate CPM. All patients were followed-up for 12–28 months (average 18.6). XR were taken each time and clinical examination was done, ROM was noted as well as muscle strength. Elbow stability was tested only on the 2^nd month post op. Patient satisfaction was noted based of their function ability, and the amount of pain. Pain was rated on a scale of 1–10.

Results: Both groups passed the surgery uneventfully. No neurovascular damage nor infection were noted. In clinical examination the elbow was found to be stable in both groups. Decreased ROM in compare with the other elbow was found in both groups, but was more prominent in he ORIF group. One patient in the ORIF group in which biodegradable rod was used developed moderate synovitis that passed without intervention after 9 weeks. XR reveled that one patient in the ORIF group developed Heterotopic ossification, no dislocation or subluxation of the prosthesis was seen. Regarding to pain, in the ORIF group the patients rated their pain as milder in compare to those in the prosthetic group.

Conclusions: Both methods result in stable elbow but the ORIF group showed tendency to experience less pains and the prosthesis group showed tendency to better ROM.