Total elbow replacement

The historic development of prosthetic total elbow arthroplasty is traced and results of constrained, semiconstrained, and nonconstrained designs reported. The authors' personal experience with the semiconstrained total elbow replacement, surgical indications with an emphasis on careful patient selection, and highlights of operative technique are discussed. Pain, instability, ankylosis, and arthritic degeneration of the elbow have inspired many surgical attempts to improve function and relieve pain. The most sophisticated surgical options now include total elbow replacement. This paper reviews the development of total elbow arthroplasty and assesses the experience with semiconstrained total elbow replacements performed at the New York University Medical Center over the last eight years.