Prospective comparative analysis of arthroscopic debridement for primary and post-traumatic elbow osteoarthritis

The main aim of the present study was to compare the preoperative profiles and the efficacy of arthroscopic debridement for elbow osteoarthritis between patients with primary versus post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The study hypothesis was that the two groups would show no difference on either criterion.

In the framework of a symposium of the French Arthroscopy Society (SFA), a prospective comparative multicenter study included 87 patients with 6 months' follow-up of arthroscopic debridement for elbow osteoarthritis: 53 primary (G1) and 34 secondary (G2). Pre- and post-operative clinical assessment in both groups compared Andrews-Carson specific functional score for elbow osteoarthritis (main endpoint), and the QuickDash (QD), Patient-Related Elbow Evaluation (PREE) and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) functional scores, pain on VAS, range of motion (RoM) and strength.

Arthroscopic debridement significantly improved all functional scores at 6 months, notably including the specific Andrews-Carson score, which showed gain in both groups: 68.5±28.7 (range, -5 to 110) in G1 and 62.6±25.4 (18 to 110) in G2 (P=0.35). Pain decreased significantly in both groups, by 5.1±2.6 points (range, 10 to 1) in G1 and 4.4±2.7 points (range, 8.5 to 1) in G2 (P=0.28). RoM in flexion-extension improved comparably in both groups, by 42.9±22.1 (-15 to 105) in G1 and 49.3±24.5 (10 to 90) in G2 (P=0.22). Strength in flexion improved comparably, by 7.6±4.7kg (-2 to 17.5) in G1 and 6.1±4.8kg (-1 to 13) in G2 (P=0.23).

The study hypothesis was confirmed: there were no differences according to primary versus secondary osteoarthritis in preoperative profile or results. Elbow osteoarthritis entails mechanical impingement. Arthroscopic debridement gave good results independently of primary or post-traumatic etiology.

III, prospective comparative observational multicenter cohort study.