The goals of the present study were to compare of radial head excision and open reduction k internal fixation for comminuted radial head & neck fracture.

From march 1993 to February 1999, Patients with fracture of radial head (Mason type III) who were treated at Dae-Jeon Sun General hospital were enrolled in the study. The average duration of follow up was 3 years and 3 months. Six patients(Group A) were treated with radial head excision and fourteen patients(Group B) were treated with open reduction and internal fixation.

By functional rating index(modified After B.F. Morrey et al), in Group A, the results were classified as excellent(1 patient), good(No patient), fair(2 patients), and poor(3 patients), and in Group B, excellent(4 patients), good(5 patients), fair(3 patients), and poor(2 patients).

We concluded clinically to obtain better outcome in group which were treated with open reduction and internal fixation than radial head excision. Therefore, though the treatment of choice for Mason type III radial head fracture was total excision, in consideration of complication, procedure to preserve radial head was desirable. We must give careful consideration to possibility of open reduction and decision of radial head excision.