Periprosthetic joint infection represents a devastating complication after total elbow arthroplasty. Several measures can be implemented before, during, and after surgery to decrease infection rates, which exceed 5%. Debridement with antibiotics and implant retention has been reported to be successful in less than one-third of acute infections, but still plays a role. For elbows with well-fixed implants, staged retention seems to be equally successful as the more commonly performed two-stage reimplantation, both with a success rate of 70% to 80%. Permanent resection or even amputation are occasionally considered. Not uncommonly, a second-stage reimplantation requires complex reconstruction of the skeleton with allografts, and the extensor mechanism may also be deficient. Further developments are needed to improve our management of infection after elbow arthroplasty. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to review the provision of total elbow arthroplasties (TEAs) in England, including the incidence, the characteristics of the patients and the service providers, the types of implant, and the outcomes. We analyzed the primary TEAs recorded in the National Joint Registry (NJR) between April 2012 and December 2022, with mortality data from the Civil Registration of Deaths dataset. Linkage with Hospital Episode Statistics-Admitted Patient Care (HES-APC) data provided further information not collected by the NJR. The incidences were calculated using estimations of the populations from the Office for National Statistics. The annual number of TEAs performed by surgeons and hospitals was analyzed on a national and regional basis.Aims
Methods
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) reliably improves shoulder pain and function for a variety of indications. However, the safety and efficacy of RSA in elderly patients is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to report the mortality, morbidity, complications, reoperations, and outcomes of primary RSA in patients aged > 80 years. Between 2004 and 2013, 242 consecutive primary RSAs were performed in patients aged > 80 years (mean 83.3 years (Aims
Patients and Methods
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of
intravenous tranexamic acid on the reduction of blood loss, transfusion
rate, and early post-operative clinical outcome in total shoulder
arthroplasty. A randomised, placebo-controlled trial which included 54 patients
undergoing unilateral primary stemless anatomical or stemmed reverse
total shoulder arthroplasty was undertaken. Patients received either
100 ml saline (placebo, n = 27), or 100 ml saline together with
1000 mg of tranexamic acid (TXA, n = 27) intravenously prior to
skin incision and during wound closure. Peri-operative blood loss
via an intra-articular drain was recorded and total blood loss was
calculated. The post-operative transfusion rate was documented.
Assessment of early clinical parameters included the visual analogue
scale for pain (VAS), documentation of haematoma formation and adverse events.Aims
Patients and Methods
In the initial development of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA),
the humeral component was usually fixed with cement. Cementless
components were subsequently introduced. The aim of this study was
to compare the long-term outcome of cemented and cementless humeral
components in arthroplasty of the shoulder. All patients who underwent primary arthroplasty of the shoulder
at our institution between 1970 and 2012 were included in the study.
There were 4636 patients with 1167 cemented humeral components and
3469 cementless components. Patients with the two types of fixation
were matched for nine different covariates using a propensity score
analysis. A total of 551 well-balanced pairs of patients with cemented
and cementless components were available after matching for comparison
of the outcomes. The clinical outcomes which were analysed included loosening
of the humeral component determined at revision surgery, periprosthetic
fractures, post-operative infection and operating time.Aims
Patients and Methods
Revision total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is often challenging.
The aim of this study was to report on the clinical and radiological
results of revision arthroplasty of the elbow with the Latitude
TEA. Between 2006 and 2010 we used the Latitude TEA for revision in
18 consecutive elbows (17 patients); mean age 53 years (28 to 80);
14 women. A Kudo TEA was revised in 15 elbows and a Souter-Strathclyde
TEA in three. Stability, range of movement (ROM), visual analogue score (VAS)
for pain and functional scores, Elbow Functional Assessment Scale
(EFAS), the Functional Rating Index of Broberg and Morrey (FRIBM)
and the Modified Andrews’ Elbow Scoring System (MAESS) were assessed
pre-operatively and at each post-operative follow-up visit (six,
12 months and biennially thereafter). Radiographs were analysed
for loosening, fractures and dislocation. The mean follow-up was
59 months (26 to 89).Aims
Patients and Methods
We describe the use of a protocol of irrigation and debridement
(I&
D) with retention of the implant for the treatment of periprosthetic
infection of a total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). This may be an attractive
alternative to staged re-implantation. Between 1990 and 2010, 23 consecutive patients were treated in
this way. Three were lost to follow-up leaving 20 patients (21 TEAs)
in the study. There were six men and 14 women. Their mean age was
58 years (23 to 76). The protocol involved: component unlinking,
irrigation and debridement (I&
D), and the introduction of antibiotic
laden cement beads; organism-specific intravenous antibiotics; repeat
I&
D and re-linkage of the implant if appropriate; long-term
oral antibiotic therapy. Aims
Patients and Methods
Unlinked, linked and convertible total elbow
arthroplasties (TEAs) are currently available. This study is the
first to report the clinical results of the convertible Latitude
TEA. This was a retrospective study of a consecutive cohort of 63
patients (69 primary TEAs) with a mean age of 60 years (23 to 87).
Between 2006 and 2008 a total of 19 men and 50 women underwent surgery.
The mean follow-up was 43 months (8 to 84). The range of movement,
function and pain all improved six months post-operatively and either
continued to improve slightly or reached a plateau thereafter. The
complication rate is similar to that reported for other TEA systems.
No loosening was seen. Remarkable is the disengagement of the radial
head component in 13 TEAs (31%) with a radial head component implanted. Implantation of both the linked and the unlinked versions of
the Latitude TEA results in improvement of function and decreased
pain, and shows high patient satisfaction at mid-term follow-up. Cite this article:
Treatment of an infected total elbow replacement
(TER) is often successful in eradicating or suppressing the infection.
However, the extensor mechanism may be compromised by both the infection
and the surgery. The goal of this study was to assess triceps function
in patients treated for deep infection complicating a TER. Between
1976 and 2007 a total of 217 TERs in 207 patients were treated for
infection of a TER at our institution. Superficial infections and
those that underwent resection arthroplasty were excluded, leaving
93 TERs. Triceps function was assessed by examination and a questionnaire.
Outcome was measured using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS). Triceps weakness was identified in 51 TERs (49 patients, 55%).
At a mean follow-up of five years (0.8 to 34), the extensor mechanism
was intact in 13 patients, with the remaining 38 having bone or
soft-tissue loss. The mean MEPS was 70 points (5 to 100), with a
mean functional score of 18 (0 to 25) of a possible 25 points. Infection following TER can often be eradicated; however, triceps
weakness occurs in more than half of the patients and may represent
a major functional problem. Cite this article:
We report our experience of staged revision surgery
for the treatment of infected total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). Between
1998 and 2010 a consecutive series of 33 patients (34 TEAs) underwent
a first-stage procedure with the intention to proceed to second-stage
procedure when the infection had been controlled. A single first-stage procedure
with removal of the components and cement was undertaken for 29
TEAs (85%), followed by the insertion of antibiotic-impregnated
cement beads, and five (15%) required two or more first-stage procedures.
The most common organism isolated was coagulase-negative A second-stage procedure was performed for 26 TEAs (76%); seven
patients (seven TEAs, 21%) had a functional resection arthroplasty
with antibiotic beads There were three recurrent infections (11.5%) in those patients
who underwent a second-stage procedure. The infection presented
at a mean of eight months (5 to 10) post-operatively. The mean Mayo
Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) in those who underwent a second stage
revision without recurrent infection was 81.1 (65 to 95). Staged revision surgery is successful in the treatment of patients
with an infected TEA and is associated with a low rate of recurrent
infection. However, when infection does occur, this study would
suggest that it becomes apparent within ten months of the second
stage procedure. Cite this article:
