OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether open reduction and internal-fixation (ORIF) was superior to radial head replacement in treatment of Mason type III radial head fractures by comparing postoperative complication rate and satisfactory rate. METHODS Clinical trials comparing ORIF with radial head replacement for Mason type III radial head fractures were reviewed published up to September 1, 2012. Methodological quality of each included trials was assessed using the Jadad scale. The analyses were performed with Cochrane RevMan software version 5.1. RESULTS One prospective randomized controlled trial and one comparative study involving 67 patients with 67 cases were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Both the forest plots of complication rate and satisfactory rate indicated statistical differences between the two surgical techniques in treatment of Mason type III radial head fractures. The complication rate was 13.9 % in patients treated with radial head replacement and 58.1 % in patients treated with ORIF. The satisfactory rate was 91.7 % in patients treated with radial head replacement and 51.6 % in patients treated with ORIF. CONCLUSIONS Given the available evidence, radial head replacement appeared to reach better outcomes in patients with Mason type III radial head fractures followed 5 years or less. METHODS Therapeutic II.