Periprosthetic Fractures after Total Elbow Replacement

PURPOSE: To analyze clinical presentation and results of the treatment of periprosthetic fractures occurring after total elbow replacement (TER). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients who had periprosthetic fractures after TER were examined. The locations and the causes of periprosthetic fractures were evaluated. The periprosthetic fractures were classified using Mayo classification. Stable fractures were treated conservatively, and unstable fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Revision operation was conducted if implant loosening was observed. End results after treatment were evaluated based on Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and radiologic examinations. RESULTS: Most fractures occurred at the humeral site(82%), and Type B2 periprosthetic fracture was most frequently observed(64%). Radiographic union was observed at a mean of 26 weeks after the treatment. No statistically significant differences were observed between preoperative and postoperative elbow active motions. According to the MEPS, the results were rated as excellent in three patients, good in five, fair in one and poor in two. CONCLUSION: A periprosthetic fracture after TER likely occurrs at humeral site and it is highly related with loosening of the implant. Although union tends to be delayed and complications occur frequently, relatively fair results can be obtained with appropriate treatment.

Complications and Revision Rate as the Type of Prosthesis of Total Elbow Replacement: Long-term Follow-up in Korea / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Few studies have compared the outcomes, complications and revision rate of a total elbow replacement (TER) prosthetic design. This study examined a series of patients with semiconstrained and unconstrained total elbow replacements (TER) and evaluated them for any functional differences, complications and revision rates that might be attributable to the prosthetic design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total 78 cases of primary TER was performed in 71 patients. Their mean age at TER was 54 years. The causes of TER were rheumatoid arthritis in 42, post-traumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis 24 and 5 patients, respectively. Unconstrained and semiconstrained TER was employed in 35 and 43 cases, respectively. The end results of TER by the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), their elbow range of motion before and after surgery, their complications and revision rates after an average 13 year follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: The MEPS was improved from 33 points pre-operatively to 87 points post-operatively (p<0.001). Active flexion-extension elbow motions were also improved markedly from 27degrees-86degrees pre-operatively to 16degrees-128degrees postoperatively (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the semiconstrained and unconstrained TER in the post-operative MEPS (p=0.764) and range of motion (p=0.728). The complication rate was much higher in the unconstrained groups than in the semiconstrained group (p=0.014). The mean total revision rate was 29.5%. There was no significant difference in revision rate between the unconstrained and semiconstrained groups (p=0.402). Loosening was found in a total of 12 cases (15.4%). There was also no significant difference in loosening between the semiconstrained and unconstrained groups (p=0.382). CONCLUSION: Favorable results of MEPS and elbow motion were obtained in both the unconstrained and semiconstrained types after an average 13 year follow up after TER. However, the semiconstrained type of TER showed a lower complication rate than the unconstrained type of TER.

Revision Arthroplasty for the Aseptic Loosening after Semiconstrained Total Elbow Replacement: Midterm Results / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical results of revision arthroplasty for aseptic loosening after performing semiconstrained total elbow replacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed fifteen patients that had undergone aseptic loosening after semiconstrained total elbow replacement who also had revision arthroplasty. There were 4 men and 11 women, with a mean age of 57 years. The average duration of follow-up was 54 months. The primary causes of arthroplasty were posttraumatic arthrosis (five cases), rheumatoid arthritis (four cases), primary osteoarthritis (four cases), ankylosis (one case) and Charcot joint (one case). For eleven (73%) elbows, the cementing technique was considered marginal or inadequate at the time of primary arthroplasty. An impaction bone graft was used in seven patients at revision, a strut allograft was used in four patients and cement alone was used in four patients. RESULTS: The average preoperative Mayo elbow performance score was 56.6 points; the average postoperative score was 84.5 points. At the latest follow-up, according to the Mayo elbow performance index, six patient elbows showed an excellent result, six patient elbows showed a good result, one patient elbow had a fair result and two patient elbows showed a poor result. Aseptic loosening occurred in three of four elbows that had been revised with cement only. CONCLUSION: Revision arthroplasty for aseptic loosening after semiconstrained total elbow replacement was useful for the relief of pain, maintenance of stability and the activities of daily living. A poor cementing technique and an inadequate selection of implant may be associated with loosening as a main risk factor. Revision using an impaction graft or strut allograft can be a reliable technique for treating a failed total elbow arthroplasty with massive bone loss.

Current status of elbow arthroplasty / 中国矫形外科杂志

Two types of elbow arthroplasties are used in current clinial practice:interpositional and implant arthroplasty.Interposition elbow arthroplasty neither completely eliminates pain nor restores full function.It may be indicated for young active patients with severe inflammatory or posttraumatic arthritis,especially those with limited elbow motion.Current implant arthroplasty has come a long way in the past three decades.Elbow implant survival data nearly approach those of knee arthroplasty.The majority of patients have significant improvement in function and marked pain relief after total elbow replacement.However,the complication rate is higher than that for total hip and knee arthroplasty,is likely inherent in the anatomic uniqueness of the elbow itself.Greater caution must be paid to prevention of the complications of total elbow replacement.This article reviews the types,indications,contraindications and results of elbow arthroplasty.

Insufficiency Fracture of Olecranon after Total Elbow Replacement Arthroplasty in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Report of Three Cases / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Osteoporosis due to the rheumatoid arthritis and the glucocorticoid therapy predisposes patients to insufficiency fractures. Insufficiency fractures or periprosthetic fractures of the lower extremity in the rheumatoid arthritis have been frequently reported. But those of the upper extremity were rarely reported. We report three cases of the insufficiency fracture of the olecranon after total elbow replacement arthroplasty in patients with the rheumatoid arthritis. All the cases were successfully treated by immobilization for 3 weeks. At the last follow-up, there were no functional impairments or residual symptoms caused by the fractures.

Total Elbow Replacement / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Since 1974, we had performed five cases of total elbow replacement; four cases of Coonrad type and one case of Stanmore type. There were done In three cases of comminuted fracture and dislocation of the elbow and two cases of ankylosis of the elbow. We could obtain useful range of motion in three cases and good stability without pain in all the cases. In one case of Coonrad type total elbow, we removed the prosthesis at five years and three months later due to infection of the Joint. In another case of Coonrad type total elbow, there was transitory tourniquet palsy of the arm.