Aims. Arthroplasties of the elbow, including total elbow arthroplasty, radial head arthroplasty, distal humeral hemiarthroplasty, and radiocapitellar arthroplasty, are rarely undertaken. This scoping review aims to outline the current research in this area to inform the development of future research. Methods. A scoping review was undertaken adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines using Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and trial registries, limited to studies published between 1 January 1990 and 7 February 2021. Endnote software was used for screening and selection, and included randomized trials, non-randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, analytical cross-sectional studies, and case series of ten or more patients reporting the clinical outcomes of
We divided 309 patients with an inflammatory arthritis who had undergone primary
We present the results of 525 primary Souter
This paper describes the development, operative technique and results of an unconstrained total elbow arthroplasty. Forty-seven
We have reviewed 36 of 39 consecutive patients with an average age of 68 years who had semiconstrained
We reviewed 50 capitellocondylar
The Acclaim total elbow replacement is a modular system which allows implantation in both unlinked and linked modes. The results of the use of this implant in primary total elbow replacement in 36 patients, operated on between July 2000 and August 2002, are presented at a mean follow-up of 36 months (24 to 49). Only one patient did not have good relief of pain, but all had improved movement and function. No implant showed clinical or radiological loosening, although one had a lucent area in three of seven humeral zones. The short-term results of the Acclaim total elbow replacement are encouraging. However, 11 patients (30.5%) suffered an intra-operative fracture of the humeral condyle. This did not affect the outcome, or the requirement for further surgery, except in one case where the fracture failed to unite. This problem has hopefully been addressed by redesigning the humeral resection guide. Other complications included three cases of ulnar neuropathy (8.3%) and one of deep infection (2.8%).
Medium-term results of the Discovery elbow replacement
are presented. We reviewed 51 consecutive primary Discovery total
elbow replacements (TERs) implanted in 48 patients. The mean age
of the patients was 69.2 years (49 to 92), there were 19 males and
32 females (37%:63%) The mean follow-up was 40.6 months (24 to 69).
A total of six patients were lost to follow-up. Statistically significant
improvements in range movement and Oxford Elbow Score were found
(p <
0.001). Radiolucent lines were much more common in, and
aseptic loosening was exclusive to, the humeral component. Kaplan–Meier
survivorship at five years was 92.2% (95% CI 74.5% to 96.4%) for
aseptic loosening. In four TERs, periprosthetic infection occurred
resulting in failure. A statistically significant association between
infection and increased BMI was found (p = 0.0268). Triceps failure
was more frequent after the Mayo surgical approach and TER performed
after previous trauma surgery. No failures of the implant were noted. Our comparison shows that the Discovery has early clinical results
that are similar to other semi-constrained TERs. We found continued
radiological surveillance with particular focus on humeral lucency
is warranted and has not previously been reported. Despite advances
in the design of total elbow replacement prostheses, rates of complication
remain high. Cite this article:
We studied, ten patients (11 elbows) who had
undergone 14 allograft-prosthesis composite reconstructions following
failure of a previous total elbow replacement with massive structural
bone loss. There were nine women and one man with a mean age of
64 years (40 to 84), who were reviewed at a mean of 75 months (24
to 213). One patient developed a deep infection after 26 months
and had the allograft-prosthesis composite removed, and two patients
had mild pain. The median flexion-extension arc was 100° (95% confidence
interval (CI) 76° to 124°). With the exception of the patient who
had the infected failure, all the patients could use their elbows
comfortably without splints or braces for activities of daily living.
The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Index improved from 9.5 (95% CI
4.4 to 14.7) pre-operatively to 74 (95% CI 62.4 to 84.9) at final
review. Radiologically, the rate of partial resorption was similar in
the humeral and ulnar allografts (three of six and four of eight,
respectively; p >
0.999). The patterns of resorption, however, were
different. Union at the host-bone-allograft junction was also different
between the humeral and ulnar allografts (one of six and seven of
eight showing union, respectively; p = 0.03). At medium-term follow-up, allograft-prosthesis composite reconstruction
appears to be a useful salvage technique for failed elbow replacements
with massive bone loss. The effects of allograft resorption and
host-bone-allograft junctional union on the longevity of allograft-prosthesis
composite reconstruction, however, remain unknown, and it is our
view that these patients should remain under long-term regular review.
The Norway elbow prosthesis is a non-constrained cemented total replacement. It depends on intact collateral ligaments for stability, and allows a full range of movement. The system includes several sizes of components, all freely interchangeable, and semi-constraint can be provided by a locking ring if damaged collateral ligaments make dislocation possible. The prosthesis has been used in more than 350 elbows in Norway and the detailed results for 118 elbows studied prospectively since 1987 are reported. It is inserted through a posterolateral triceps-splitting incision with minimal muscle disruption and bone resection, preserving the collateral ligaments. The results as regards pain relief and range of movement were comparable with those of other elbow prostheses, but there were fewer serious complications. At a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, the failure rate was 3.4%.
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:
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:
Between 1978 and 1986, 59 patients received a GSB III elbow prosthesis, six of them in both elbows. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was the underlying cause in 51 of the patients and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) in eight. Of these, 24 patients (28 prostheses) have since died; two, both operated on bilaterally, had had their implants for more than ten years and had already been assessed for inclusion in the long-term follow-up. Two patients, each with one elbow prosthesis, have been lost to follow-up and three males who are still living (two with PTOA, one with juvenile RA) had their prosthesis removed before ten years had elapsed. The remaining 32 patients (28 RA, 4 PTOA) with 36 GSB III elbows were examined clinically and radiologically after a mean period of 13.5 years. Pain was considerably reduced in 91.6%. Mobility was increased by 37° in those with RA and by 67° in those with PTOA. There were three cases of aseptic loosening and three of deep infection. The main complication was disassembly of the prosthetic component in nine elbows (13.8%). This last group included two patients with postoperative fractures unrelated to the operative technique and one with neuropathic arthritis. Ulnar neuritis occurred in two patients. Since 87.7% of all the GSB III prostheses implanted in this period remained in situ, our results are comparable with those for hip and knee arthroplasty.
Six highly unstable elbows with severe bone loss due to rheumatoid arthritis were replaced by a non-constrained, unlinked prosthesis. Bone defects were filled with autogenous bone grafts. The mean follow-up was 4.5 years (2 to 8). The clinical results were excellent in four elbows and good in two, with good varus-valgus stability in all. Radiological follow-up showed no appreciable signs of loosening, and the bone grafts had retained most of their original size, with minimal resorption. There were no major complications such as dislocation, skin necrosis, infection or ulnar neuropathy. The study has shown that the so-called mutilans elbow can be successfully replaced using a properly selected type of non-constrained, unlinked prosthesis with bone grafting of the major defects.
From 1984 to 1995, 68 ankylosed elbows and 11 which were unstable after trauma were replaced in India by Baksi sloppy hinge prostheses. The mean age of the patients was 28.6 years (17 to 70) and the mean follow-up 9.6 years (2 to 13.5). Of the 68 ankylosed elbows, 59 (87%) regained a mean arc of painless movement of 88.5° (27 to 115). The mean improvement of supination was 24° and of pronation 16.5°. There were 54 good results (80%), eight fair and three poor. There were two complete failures due to infection, and one due to a broken humeral stem. Of the 11 unstable elbows, the nine with good results had a mean arc of 125° (15 to 140) of painless stable movement, with a mean improvement in supination of 26° and of pronation of 19.5°. There was one fair result and one failure due to loosening with subsequent late infection. There were significant complications in 14 cases with infection in seven and aseptic loosening in four. Patients with loosening or late removal of the prosthesis often retained reasonably stable elbow movement because periprosthetic fibrosis had connected the approximated bone ends, and muscle balance had been restored.
There have been few reports in the literature of total elbow arthroplasty extending beyond 10 to 15 years. We reviewed 40 patients (41 elbows) with a mean age of 56 years (19 to 83) who had undergone a Coonrad/Coonrad-Morrey
Ulnar neuropathy presents as a complication in 5% to 10% of total elbow replacements, but subsequent ulnar neurolysis is rarely performed. Little information is available on the surgical management of persistent ulnar neuropathy after
We studied retrospectively the results of revision arthroplasty of the elbow using a linked Coonrad-Morrey implant in 23 patients (24 elbows) after a mean follow-up period of 55 months. According to the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, 19 elbows were satisfactory, nine were excellent and ten good. The median total score had improved from 35 points (20 to 75) before the primary arthroplasty to 85 points (40 to 100) at the latest follow-up. There was a marked relief of pain, but the range of movement showed no overall improvement. Two patients had a second revision because of infection and two for aseptic loosening. The estimated five-year survival rate of the prosthesis was 83.1% (95% confidence interval 61.1 to 93.3). Revision