The extent of proximal migration of the radius in thirteen patients who
had had the radial head excised for fracture was 1.9 millimeters. After an
average of twenty years there was minimum loss of motion of the elbow and
forearm but strength was moderately decreased. The patients often had
degenerative arthritis at the elbow that generally was not severe but
correlated with the amount of pain. It correlated poorly with the severity
of arthritis, loss of strength, motion, or pain. Over-all, the patients did
well following resection of the radial head and there was no deterioration
of results with time. An instrumented method for functional evaluation
provided an objective and sensitive quantitative means to assess the need
for and effectiveness of reconstructive procedure.