Descriptive analysis of total elbow arthroplasty for distal humerus fractures: 30-day complications

Although functional outcomes of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) for distal humerus fractures are satisfactory, there is a high rate of complications. This study aims to characterize the 30-day complications, readmissions, and mortality of patients with TEA for distal humerus fractures in a large registry database.

Patients who underwent TEA for a distal humerus fracture were identified from the 2015 to 2020 ACS-NSQIP (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) database. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and complications including deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolus, infection, mortality, readmissions, and reoperations were recorded. Overall, 134 patients (mean age, 73.6 years; mean body mass index, 28.9 kg/m2 ; 88.8% females) were included.

The total complication rate was 21.6% (n=29). The most common complications were unplanned readmission (6.0%), postoperative transfusion (5.2%), unplanned reoperation (3.0%), wound disruption (2.2%), and urinary tract infection (1.5%). The composite infection rate was 3.7%. There were no 30-day events of mortality, sepsis, or cerebral vascular accident. Patients 80 years or older had higher but not significant rates of unplanned readmission (10.2% vs. 3.5%, P=0.116) and reoperation (6.1% vs. 1.2%, P=0.105).

TEA for distal humerus fracture analyzed over 5 years had high rates of 30-day postoperative complications (21.6%), with unplanned readmission, reoperation, and infection being the most common. Level of evidence: IV.