Radiolucencies surrounding a smooth-stemmed radial head component may not correlate with forearm pain or poor elbow function.

Hypothesis: Radiolucencies surrounding the stems of smooth-stemmed metal radial head prostheses placed for comminuted radial head fractures are associated with proximal radial forearm pain.

Materials And Methods: Patients in whom 18 consecutive elbows that underwent metal radial head replacement with smooth stems for comminuted radial head fractures were assessed at least two years after surgery. Proximal radial forearm pain was assessed with a visual analog score (0-10) and elbow function with a Mayo index.