An Articulating Antibiotic Cement Spacer for First-stage Reconstruction for Infected Total Elbow Arthroplasty

Management of an infected total elbow replacement is a significant clinical challenge. Although preservation of the prosthesis is ideal, a 2-stage revision is often necessary. Unlike lower limb arthroplasty, antibiotic spacers are not commercially available. Monoblock cement spacers do not allow elbow movements and are therefore associated with severe stiffness and scarring, leading to poor clinical outcomes. In our paper we present a simple and novel technique for constructing an articulating antibiotic-impregnated spacer for use as an implant for a 1-stage revision of an infected elbow arthroplasty.