Semiconstrained Total Elbow Arthroplasty for Posttraumatic Arthritis or Deformities of the Elbow: A Prospective Study

Abstract

To report the short-term results for posttraumatic total elbow arthroplasty. We included patients presenting to our hospital with symptomatic chronic posttraumatic arthritis or deformities of the elbow, aged 55 to 90 years. All patients had reconstruction with a Coonrad-Morrey prosthesis. We performed clinical follow-up after 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, consisting of physical examination, standard radiographs, and calculation of the Mayo elbow performance index. A total of 17 patients were enrolled in this study and had a mean follow-up of 32 months. Mean preoperative flexion arc was 67° and 105° postoperatively. The mean preoperative Mayo elbow performance index score was 54 (range, 30-80) and improved to a postoperative score of 93 (range, 60-100). We encountered 6 complications in 5 patients. Four complications required surgical intervention and 2 minor complications were treated noninvasively. Short-term functional outcomes after total elbow arthroplasty in this prospective cohort of patients with posttraumatic arthritis or deformities of the elbow were good according to mean postoperative measurements.