Elbow Interpositional Arthroplasty using an Achilles Tendon Allograft: A Case Report

The treatment of post-traumatic elbow arthritis poses a significant challenge for orthopedic surgeons, especially in young active patients. Total elbow arthroplasty is often the recommended treatment option in older patients; however, interpositional arthroplasty remains a viable option in high-demand patients.

We report a case of a 50-year-old male who presented after the development of post-traumatic arthritis of the elbow after multiple prior surgeries. He was treated with an interpositional arthroplasty using an Achilles tendon graft and allowed immediate range of motion as tolerated in a hinged elbow brace without the use of any form of distraction external fixation. At his final follow-up, he has significantly improved pain, range of motion, and patient-reported Visual Analog Scale , American shoulder and elbow surgeons, mayo elbow performance score, and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand scores.

This case report demonstrated that interpositional arthroplasty is a viable option for managing post-traumatic elbow osteoarthritis in young patients and with good ligamentous stability, immediate protected range of motion, as tolerated, can lead to excellent outcomes.