Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Total Elbow Arthroplasty Using a Semi‐constrained Prosthesis with a Triceps‐preserving Approach over a Minimum Follow‐up Period of 4 Years

Abstract

ObjectiveComplications related to triceps after total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) have become a major surgical concern. The triceps‐preserving approach has the advantage of not disturbing the insertion of triceps but is disadvantaged by the reduced exposure of the elbow joint. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes of TEA with a triceps‐preserving approach and to compare the outcomes of TEA to treat arthropathy with that of TEA to treat acute distal humerus fracture.MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2018, 23 patients undergoing primary TEAs were retrospectively reviewed with a mean follow‐up time of 92.6 months (range, 52–136 months). Each TEA was performed using the triceps‐preserving approach with a semi‐constrained Coonrad–Morrey prosthesis. Patient demographics, range of motion (ROM), pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and triceps strength (Medical Research Council [MRC] scale) were compared before and after surgery. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, radiographic outcome, and complications were evaluated at follow‐up.ResultsIn total, seven males and 16 females were included in this study, with a mean age of 66.1 years (range:46–85 years). By the last follow‐up, pain had been significantly relieved in all patients. The average MEPS in the arthropathy group and fracture group were 90.8 ± 10.3 points (range: 68–98 points) and 91.7 ± 0.4 (range: 76–100 points), respectively. The average DASH of the arthropathy group and fracture group was 37.3 ± 18.8 points (range: 18–52 points) and 38.4 ± 20.1 (range: 16–60 points). At the last follow‐up after surgery, the mean flexion arcs in the arthropathy group and fracture group were 100.4° ± 24.1° and 97.8° ± 28.1°, respectively. The mean pro‐supination arcs in the arthropathy group and fracture group were 142.4° ± 15.2° and 139.2° ± 17.5°, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups (P ≥ 0.05). Triceps strength was normal (MRC grade V) in 15 elbows and good in eight elbows. None of the cases experienced weakness of the triceps strength, infection, periprosthetic fractures, or prosthesis breakage.ConclusionsThe clinical and radiographical outcomes of TEA with the triceps‐preserving approach were satisfactory in patients with distal humerus fracture, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Special Issue

“…This issue features 32 professional articles, including three review articles, 21 clinical articles, four research articles, two operative techniques, and two case reports, contributed by well-known orthopaedic experts from China, the United States, Korea, and Europe.The elbow section of this issue includes papers on arthroscopy, 1 open surgery in elbow stiffness, 2,3 fractures, 4 total elbow arthroplasty, 5 and conservative methods of treatment. 6 The shoulder section addresses a multitude of anatomic details as well as techniques, including clavicular shaft and distal fractures, acromioclavicular joint traumatic and degenerative conditions, [7][8][9][10][11] rotator cuff pathologies and fixation techniques, treatment of the post-surgical or post-traumatic glenohumeral stiffness, fractures of the proximal humerus, 5,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] the safety of irrigation in the shoulder arthroscopy, management of the scapular and glenoid fractures, radiologic and 3D models. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Overall, this special issue contains plenty of meaningful readings for surgeons specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery and for general orthopaedic and trauma specialists, as well as for orthopaedic residents and young surgeons worldwide.…”

“…The elbow section of this issue includes papers on arthroscopy , 1 open surgery in elbow stiffness 2 , 3 fractures , 4 total elbow arthroplasty , 5 and conservative methods of treatment. 6 The shoulder section addresses a multitude of anatomic details as well as techniques, including clavicular shaft and distal fractures, acromioclavicular joint traumatic and degenerative conditions, 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 rotator cuff pathologies and fixation techniques, treatment of the post‐surgical or post‐traumatic glenohumeral stiffness, fractures of the proximal humerus, 5 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 the safety of irrigation in the shoulder arthroscopy, management of the scapular and glenoid fractures, radiologic and 3D models. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 …”