Purpose: Resection elbow arthroplasty is a salvage procedure typically considered as a last resort when other reconstructive options have failed. It was the intent of this study to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients following resection elbow arthroplasty.

Method: Fifty-four elbow resections performed between 1975 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Pre and post-operative elbow function was evaluated with the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and additional follow-up data was compiled using the Disability of Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. All patients in this study had a resection following a failed total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). Nineteen patients had died at time of follow-up, and 5 patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 30 of the surviving 34 patients (88%) available for long-term evaluation.

Results: The main indication for resection in this study was infection (50 of 54 elbows). The average MEPS prior to resection was 36. The long-term results in 30 patients at an average of 11 yrs (range 2.7–28 yrs) demonstrated an average MEPS score of 60, and a DASH score of 71. Complications were common including persistent infection requiring re-operation (44%), intra-operative fracture (32%), transient (11%) or permanent (5.5%) nerve damage, and one case of vascular injury requiring amputation. Achieving a stable resected elbow correlated strongly with a good long-term MEPS score (r=0.75).

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the difficulty in treating patients with a failed total elbow arthroplasty. Resection arthroplasty is a salvage procedure indicated primarily for persistently infected TEA and results in satisfactory outcomes in this population.