The changing epidemiology of radial head replacement over a 22-year period in Scotland

Radial head replacement is used to confer joint stability in the management of acute unstable elbow fractures and dislocations associated with instability. We determined the annual incidence of radial head replacement over a 22-year period in a defined population. Hospital episode statistics were collected prospectively at a national level. This database was retrospectively examined to determine the annual incidence of radial head replacement over the study period in adults over 16 years of age. A total of 615 radial head replacements were performed over the 22 years studied. The overall incidence was 0.65/100,000/year (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.50-0.71). The average adult population during the period was 4,270,593. There was a steady and statistically significant increase in the incidence of radial head replacement over the study period ( = 0.816;