The Souter total elbow replacement in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently experience involvement of one or both elbows. As the pain progresses and the range of motion decreases, the patient's use of the entire extremity becomes severely limited. Synovectomy of the elbow provides relief from pain, but often gives only minor improvement of elbow motion. In advanced stages of RA the development of ankylosis has been reported (1). Fusion of the rheumatoid elbow results in severe dysfunctioning of the entire extremity, since the disease involves numerous joints.In order to increase the range of motion, give pain relief and preserve joint stability, 9 total elbow arthroplasties in 9 patients were performed and the results at clinical and radiographical follow-up after 43 (19-61) months are reported.