Screw placement in arthroscopically assisted osteosynthesis of radial head fractures using a reference k-wire in the radiocapitellar joint: a cadaveric study

摘要

Purpose The optimal screw placement in arthroscopically assisted fixation of radial head fractures is still an issue and no guiding methods have been evaluated in the recent literature. The study hypothesis was that using a "reference k-wire" percutaneously inserted in and parallel to the radiocapitellar joint would enable to achieve a trajectory more parallel to the radial head articular surface as compared to a free-hand k-wire placement. Methods Arthroscopically assisted placement of a k-wire in the radial head was performed in seven fresh-frozen human cadaver specimens by three surgeons. Three different techniques were evaluated: freehand drilling (technique A), placement using a "reference" k-wire in the radiocapitellar joint as a reference without (technique B), and with the AO parallel k-wire guide (technique C). Radiographs from all procedures were obtained and the inclination angle "alpha" between the k-wire and the articular surface of the radial head was measured and compared among the techniques. Results Angles of 84 radiographs were obtained and showed a mean alpha angle of 30.1 degrees +/- 13 degrees for technique A, 5.7 degrees +/- 4.5 degrees for technique B, and 5.4 degrees +/- 3.7 degrees for technique C. The angle alpha was significantly higher with technique A as compared to B (p < 0.0001) and C (p < 0.0001). There was no difference between methods B and C (n.s.). No difference was observed among the surgeons for all three methods (p = 0.66). Conclusion With the use of an additional "reference" k-wire placed in the radiocapitellar joint, the guiding k-wire for screw drilling can be placed almost parallel to the radial head joint line with limited variability and a good reproducibility during arthroscopically assisted radial head fracture fixation. Level of evidence IV, biomechanical cadaver study