Press-Fit vs Loose-Fit Radial Head Arthroplasty (PROFIT)

November 9, 2026 updated by: AdventHealth

Outcomes of Press-Fit vs Loose-Fit Radial Head Implants: A Prospective Single-Blinded Randomized Control Trial With a Minimum Follow-Up of 2 Years

This study compares two types of artificial implants used to replace a broken part of the elbow (the radial head) when the bone is too damaged to repair. One implant (press-fit) is designed to grip the bone tightly so bone grows into it and holds it in place. The other implant (loose-fit) has a smooth stem that sits loosely in the bone and is meant to move slightly. Both implants are already approved and widely used; doctors do not yet know if one works better than the other. People taking part are placed by chance into one of the two implant groups. The study will follow them for at least 2 years to see how far they can bend and straighten the elbow, how much pain they have, how well the elbow works in daily life, whether the implant stays in good position on X-rays, and whether any further surgery is needed.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
130

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age 18 years or older.
  2. Scheduled for primary RHA.
  3. Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
  4. Willing and able to comply with post-operative follow-up visits at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.
  5. No concurrent elbow procedures such as ligament reconstruction or additional joint resurfacing at the time of RHA.
  6. No prior history of revision RHA.
  7. RHA to be performed using press-fit or loose-fit implants (no other fixation methods included).
  8. Must be able to complete PROs independently.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Diagnosed with any significant comorbidities that could interfere with rehabilitation or study participation, including but not limited to:

    • Severe osteoarthritis affecting elbow function
    • Rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders affecting musculoskeletal function
    • Full-thickness cartilage lesion in the elbow joint
    • Neurological or vascular complications
    • Neuromuscular disorders affecting movement or coordination
    • Neurocognitive conditions impacting study participation
    • Chronic infections or immunodeficiency conditions
    • Uncontrolled diabetes
    • Cardiovascular diseases (e.g., congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease)
    • Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other significant respiratory conditions
    • Renal insufficiency or chronic kidney disease (stage 3 or higher)
    • Obesity with a body mass index (BMI) > 40
    • Active cancer treatment or history of cancer within the past 5 years

  2. Known allergy or contraindication to any surgical materials used in the radial head implant procedure.

  3. Patients currently participating in another clinical trial that may interfere with this study's outcomes.

  4. Risk factors for poor implant integration and healing, including:

    • Active alcohol or substance dependence
    • Nicotine/tobacco use
    • Chronic corticosteroid use
    • Recent chemotherapy

  5. Any condition that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, would make participation in the study unsafe or not in the patient's best interest.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Press-Fit Radial Head Arthroplasty

Patients undergoing primary RHA with a press-fit (grit-blasted or porous-coated, ingrowth-dependent) radial head implant - Skeletal Dynamics radial head prosthesis.
Device: Skeletal Dynamics Radial Head (Press-Fit)

Skeletal Dynamics Radial Head (Press-Fit). Surgical placement of a press-fit radial head prosthesis sized for interference fit within the radial canal.
Active Comparator: Loose-Fit Radial Head Arthroplasty

Patients undergoing primary RHA with a loose-fit (smooth-stem spacer) radial head implant - Stryker radial head prosthesis.
Device: Stryker Radial Head (Loose-Fit).

Surgical placement of a smooth-stem radial head prosthesis functioning as a spacer permitting rotation and micromotion.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Elbow Flexion-Extension Arc of Motion
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months postoperatively

Total arc of elbow flexion-extension in degrees (maximum flexion minus loss of extension), measured with a goniometer. The primary comparison between groups is at 24 months postoperatively. Measurements at earlier time points are reported to describe recovery over time.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months postoperatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Forearm Rotation Arc of Motion
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively

Total arc of forearm rotation in degrees (maximum pronation plus maximum supination), measured with a goniometer.
Baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively
Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) Score
Time Frame: Baseline (preoperative), 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively

The QuickDASH is an 11-item patient-reported questionnaire assessing upper extremity function and symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 100, and higher scores indicate greater disability (worse outcome).
Baseline (preoperative), 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively
Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS)
Time Frame: Baseline (preoperative), 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively

The MEPS assesses elbow pain, range of motion, stability, and ability to perform daily activities. Scores range from 0 to 100, and higher scores indicate better elbow function (better outcome).
Baseline (preoperative), 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively

Participants mark their pain intensity on a continuous line scored from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate worse pain.
Baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively
Number of Participants Receiving Corticosteroid Injections
Time Frame: Through 24 months postoperatively

Number of participants who receive one or more corticosteroid injections to the operative elbow after radial head arthroplasty.
Through 24 months postoperatively
Number of Participants Requiring Reoperation
Time Frame: Through 24 months postoperatively

Number of participants who undergo any secondary surgical procedure on the operative elbow after the index radial head arthroplasty, including stiffness release and implant removal.
Through 24 months postoperatively
Number of Participants With Radiographic Implant Loosening
Time Frame: Through 24 months postoperatively

Intramedullary stem loosening on standard elbow radiographs.
Through 24 months postoperatively
Number of Participants With Radiographic Implant Subsidence
Time Frame: Through 24 months postoperatively

Implant subsidence on standard elbow radiographs compared with immediate postoperative radiographs.
Through 24 months postoperatively
Number of Participants With Radial Neck Resorption
Time Frame: Through 24 months postoperatively

Radial neck bone resorption (stress shielding) on standard elbow radiographs.
Through 24 months postoperatively
Number of Participants With Heterotopic Ossification
Time Frame: Through 24 months postoperatively

Heterotopic ossification on standard elbow radiographs.
Through 24 months postoperatively
Number of Participants With Surgical or Implant-Related Complications
Time Frame: Through 24 months postoperatively

Number of participants with one or more complications related to the surgery or implant, including implant loosening, infection, stiffness, nerve injury, instability, or implant failure.
Through 24 months postoperatively
Grip Strength
Time Frame: 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively

Maximum grip strength of the operative hand in kilograms, measured with a hand-held dynamometer.
3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
AdventHealth

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Hospital Universitario La Paz

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Amir Kachooei, MD PhD, Rothman Orthopedics at AdventHealth

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 16, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2031

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2292000

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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