[Progress on surgical treatment for elbow tuberculosis]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Infectious Diseases
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Elbow tuberculosis is a rare form of infectious osteoarthritis.
• Surgical management aims to preserve joint function, stability, and improve patient quality of life.
• Controversies exist regarding optimal surgical procedures for elbow tuberculosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and compare surgical interventions for elbow tuberculosis.
• To discuss treatment strategies based on disease stage and patient demands.
• To highlight areas of ongoing research and future directions in elbow tuberculosis management.

Main Methods:

• Review of surgical techniques for elbow tuberculosis.
• Analysis of treatment outcomes based on disease stage (early vs. advanced).
• Discussion of specific procedures including arthroplasty, arthrodesis, external fixation, and arthroscopy.

Main Results:

• Forked osteotomy arthroplasty is effective for advanced elbow tuberculosis without high strength demands.
• Arthrodesis is suitable for manual laborers, with research on optimal fusion angles recommended.
• Hinged external fixator with arthrolysis is safe and effective for early stages, with arthrolysis optimization being a research focus.
• Elbow arthroscopic surgery is effective for synovial tuberculosis and early undiagnosed cases.
• Total elbow arthroplasty is a potential future option for high-functionality needs.

Conclusions:

• Surgical treatment for elbow tuberculosis should be individualized based on disease severity and patient requirements.
• Arthroscopic interventions and external fixation with arthrolysis show promise for early-stage disease.
• Further research is needed to optimize fusion angles for arthrodesis and arthrolysis techniques.