Coronoid Impingement Causing Early Failure of Total Elbow Arthroplasty

Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is a well-established treatment for end-stage rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow. With improved surgical techniques and implant designs, TEA is also effective in treating elbow osteoarthritis, posttraumatic arthritis, distal humerus nonunion, and comminuted distal humerus fractures in the elderly population. There have been multiple reports of greater than 90% survival rate, free of reoperation at 10 years. We present a case of early failure of TEA caused by coronoid impingement, to provide a surgical pearl for others to avoid this complication.