Aims. The ulna is an extremely rare location for primary bone tumours of the elbow in paediatrics. Although several reconstruction options are available, the optimal reconstruction method is still unknown due to the rarity of
Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of application of a 3D-printed megaprosthesis with hemiarthroplasty design for defects of the distal humerus or
Summary Statement. This 3-dimensional CT study on cadaveric
Fixation of comminuted olecranon and
Determining and accurately restoring the flexion-extension
axis of the elbow is essential for functional recovery after total
elbow arthroplasty (TEA). We evaluated the effect of morphological
features of the elbow on variations of alignment of the components
at TEA. Morphological and positioning variables were compared by
systematic CT scans of 22 elbows in 21 patients after TEA. There were five men and 16 women, and the mean age was 63 years
(38 to 80). The mean follow-up was 22 months (11 to 44). The anterior offset and version of the humeral components were
significantly affected by the anterior angulation of the humerus
(p = 0.052 and p = 0.004, respectively). The anterior offset and
version of the ulnar components were strongly significantly affected
by the anterior angulation of the ulna (p <
0.001 and p <
0.001). The closer the anterior angulation of the ulna was to the joint,
the lower the ulnar anterior offset (p = 0.030) and version of the
ulnar component (p = 0.010). The distance from the joint to the
varus angulation also affected the lateral offset of the ulnar component
(p = 0.046). Anatomical variations at the distal humerus and proximal ulna
affect the alignment of the components at TEA. This is explained
by abutment of the stems of the components and is particularly severe
when there are substantial deformities or the deformities are close
to the joint. Cite this article:
We have investigated the anatomy of the proximal part of the ulna to assess its influence on the use of plates in the management of fractures at this site. We examined 54 specimens from cadavers. The mean varus angulation in the proximal third was 17.5° (11° to 23°) and the mean anterior deviation 4.5° (1° to 14°). These variations must be considered when applying plates to the dorsal surface of the ulna for Monteggia-type fractures. A pre-operative radiograph of the contralateral elbow may also be of value.
Proximal ulnar fractures may be difficult to treat and may result in chronic instability, non-union heterotrophic ossification, synostosis, stiffness and post-traumatic arthritis. The aim of this study is to study success of treatment in achieving stable reduction and early rehabilitation. Between December 2003 and January 2007 fifty patients (fifty-one elbows) which had sustained 21.A3 and 21.C3 fractures were identified and retrospectively studied. There were two broad groups of patients. Young males following high energy injuries (average age=38+/−16) and old females with osteoporotic fractures (average age=65+/−17). Twenty-two patients had associated monteggia and seven patients had trans-olacrenon dislocation. Twenty-three patients had radial sided injury. This included two capitelar fractures, nineteen radial head and neck fractures and one radial shaft fracture. Fortyfive patients were treated with plating and two patients were treated with tension band wiring. Five different plating techniques were used to stabilize the fractures. Eighteen patients had incongruent reduction. Eighteen patients had complications of the treatment. There were seven cases of non-union, one case of loss of fixation, three cases of heterotrophic ossification, three cases of synostosis, one case of deep infection and five complications resulting from radial head fractures. There was no relationship between loss of fixation and plating techniques. There was a direct relation between comminution and post fixation incongruence. Heterotrophic ossification was associated with comminution, radial head fracture, monteggia fracture-dislocation and non-union. Radio-ulnar synostosis was associated with comminution of the ulnar fracture. In conclusion, the main predictor of poor outcome is the comminution of proximal ulnar fracture and the ability to achieve congruous fracture fixation.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of custom-made endoprosthetic reconstruction for both tumourous and non-tumourous conditions around the elbow joint. 28 consecutive cases of endoprosthetic elbow reconstruction, performed between 1989 and 2003, were identified using the unit database. There were 12 males and 16 females, with a mean age 48.9 years, (range 14–84). There were 16 cases of malignant tumour (10 primary, 6 secondary), 3 cases of benign tumour (one each of giant cell tumour, osteoblastoma and pigmented villonodular synovitis) and 10 non-oncological cases, (5 cases of fracture, 3 failed total elbow replacements and 1 infected synostosis). A distal humeral prosthesis was used in 16 patients, distal humeral and
Coronoid fractures account for 2 to 15% of the cases with elbow dislocations and usually occur as part of complex injuries. Comminuted fractures and non-unions necessitate coronoid fixation, reconstruction or replacement. The aim of this biomechanical study was to compare the axial stability achieved via an individualized 3D printed prosthesis with curved cemented intramedullary stem to both radial head grafted reconstruction and coronoid fixation with 2 screws. It was hypothesized that the prosthetic replacement will provide superior stability over the grafted reconstruction and screw fixation. Following CT scanning, 18 human cadaveric
Purpose: Recognition of the
Anterior elbow dislocations often occur as a fracture-dislocation in which the distal humerus is driven through the olecranon, causing either a simple oblique fracture of the olecranon or a complex, comminuted fracture of the
Purpose. In total elbow arthroplasty (TEA), especially for elbows with condyle defect due to rheumatoid arthritis or trauma, determination of rotation alignment of implants is often difficult. To develop a navigation system for TEA, selecting bony landmarks that can be identified intraoperatively is important. Therefore, we developed a new roentgen free navigation system such as special alignment jigs for TEA based on CT data of normal elbows. The aim of this study was to evaluate alignments of implants after MIS-TEA using the new systems. And also, we reported that 6 bony landmarks on the elbow showed small variability in normal elbows by CT examinations and were considered to be usable as intraoperative landmarks for determining rotational position of implants last year. Especially in RA elbow, posterior aspect of humerus and ulnar aspect of proximal part of ulna were able to be identified even if there is a large bone defect that extends to the lateral or/and medial epicondyle. We used a new roentgen free navigation system in TEA with using Solar elbow from 2009. The aim of this study was to evaluate alignments of implants after MIS-TEA using the new systems by CT examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. For determination of alignment and anatomical landmarks to develop the jigs, 3D-CT data of 11 normal elbows was investigated. The posterior aspect of humeral shaft and ulnar aspect of
Previous biomechanical studies of lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries and their surgical repair, reconstruction and rehabilitation have primarily relied on gravity effects with the arm in the varus position. The application of torsional moments to the forearm manually in the laboratory is not reproducible, hence studies to date likely do not represent forces encountered clinically. The aim of this investigation was to develop a new biomechanical testing model to quantify posterolateral stability of the elbow using an in vitro elbow motion simulator. Six cadaveric upper extremities were mounted in an elbow motion simulator in the varus position. A threaded screw was then inserted on the dorsal aspect of the
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of custom-made endoprosthetic reconstruction for both tumourous and non-tumourous conditions around the elbow joint. Methods and Results: 28 consecutive cases of endoprosthetic elbow reconstruction, performed between 1989 and 2003, were identified using the unit database. There were 12 males and 16 females, with a mean age of 48.9 years, (range 14–84). There were 16 cases of malignant tumour (10 primary, 6 secondary), 3 cases of benign tumour (one each of giant cell tumour, osteoblastoma and pigmented villonodular synovitis) and 10 non-oncological cases, (5 cases of fracture, 3 failed total elbow replacements and 1 infected synostosis). A distal humeral prosthesis was used in 16 patients, distal humeral and
Fracture or resection of the radial head can cause unbalance and long-term functional complications in the elbow. Studies have shown that a radial head excision can change elbow kinematics and decrease elbow stability. The radial head is also important in both valgus and varus laxity and displacement. However, the effect of radial head on ulnohumeral joint load is not known. The objective of this experimental study was to compare the axial loading produced at the ulnohumeral joint during active flexion with and without a radial head resection. Ten cadaveric arms were used. Each specimen was prepared and secured in an elbow motion simulator. To simulate active flexion, the tendons of the biceps, brachialis, brachioradialis, and triceps were attached to servo motors. The elbow was moved through a full range of flexion. To quantify loads at the ulnohumeral joint, a load cell was implanted in the
Low-grade central osteosarcoma (LGCOS), a rare type of osteosarcoma, often has misleading radiological and pathological features that overlap with those of other bone tumours, thereby complicating diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to analyze the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of patients with LGCOS, with a focus on diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 49 patients with LGCOS (Broder’s grade 1 to 2) treated between January 1985 and December 2017 in a single institute. We examined the presence of malignant features on imaging (periosteal reaction, cortical destruction, soft-tissue invasion), the diagnostic accuracy of biopsy, surgical treatment, and oncological outcome.Aims
Methods
To investigate the risk factors for unsuccessful radial head reduction (RHR) in children with chronic Monteggia fractures (CMFs) treated surgically. A total of 209 children (mean age 6.84 years (SD 2.87)), who underwent surgical treatment for CMFs between March 2015 and March 2023 at six institutions, were retrospectively reviewed. Assessed risk factors included age, sex, laterality, dislocation direction and distance, preoperative proximal radial metaphysis width, time from injury to surgery, reduction method, annular ligament reconstruction, radiocapitellar joint fixation, ulnar osteotomy, site of ulnar osteotomy, preoperative and postoperative ulnar angulation, ulnar fixation method, progressive ulnar distraction, and postoperative cast immobilization. Independent-samples Aims
Methods
Despite being one of the most common injuries around the elbow, the optimal treatment of olecranon fractures is far from established and stimulates debate among both general orthopaedic trauma surgeons and upper limb specialists. It is almost universally accepted that stable non-displaced fractures can be safely treated nonoperatively with minimal specialist input. Internal fixation is recommended for the vast majority of displaced fractures, with a range of techniques and implants to choose from. However, there is concern regarding the complication rates, largely related to symptomatic metalwork resulting in high rates of implant removal. As the number of elderly patients sustaining these injuries increases, we are becoming more aware of the issues associated with fixation in osteoporotic bone and the often fragile soft-tissue envelope in this group. Given this, there is evidence to support an increasing role for nonoperative management in this high-risk demographic group, even in those presenting with displaced and/or multifragmentary fracture patterns. This review summarizes the available literature to date, focusing predominantly on the management techniques and available implants for stable fractures of the olecranon. It also offers some insights into the potential avenues for future research, in the hope of addressing some of the pertinent questions that remain unanswered. Cite this article:
Introduction. Hemiarthroplasty is a treatment option for comminuted fractures and non-unions of the distal humerus. Unfortunately, the poor anatomical fit of off-the-shelf distal humeral hemiarthroplasty (DHH) implants can cause altered cartilage contact mechanics. The result is reduced contact area and higher cartilage stresses, thus subsequent cartilage erosion a concern. Previous studies have investigated reverse-engineered DHH implants which reproduce the shape of the distal humerus bone or cartilage at the articulation, but still failed to match native contact mechanics. In this study, design optimization was used to determine the optimal DHH implant shape. We hypothesized that patient-specific optimal implants will outperform population-optimized designs, and both will optimize simple reverse-engineered designs. Methods. The boney geometries of six elbow joints were created based on cadaver arm CT data using a semi-automatic threshold technique in 3D Slicer. CT scans were also obtained with the elbows denuded and disarticulated, such that the high contrast between hydrated cartilage and air could be exploited in order to reconstruct cartilage geometry. Using this 3D model data, finite element contact models were created for each elbow, where bones (distal humerus,
We report the case of a 12-year-old boy with flexion loss in the left elbow caused by deficient of the concavity corresponding to the coronoid fossa in the distal humerus. The range of motion (ROM) was 15°/100°, and pain was induced by passive terminal flexion. Plain radiographs revealed complete epiphyseal closure, and computed tomography (CT) revealed a flat anterior surface of the distal humerus; the coronoid fossa was absent. Then, the bony morphometric contour was surgically recreated using a navigation system and a three-dimensional elbow joint model. A three-dimensional model of the elbow joint was made preoperatively and the model comprising the distal humerus was milled so that elbow flexion flexion of more than 140° could be achieved against the