Revision of failed total elbow arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rheumatology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis frequently leads to total elbow arthroplasty failure.
• Failed arthroplasties cause significant pain and functional impairment.
• Bone loss and soft-tissue disruption are common challenges in revision cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of revision surgery for failed total elbow arthroplasties.
• To assess functional outcomes and pain relief in patients undergoing revision.
• To determine the optimal treatment for failed total elbow arthroplasty.

Main Methods:

• Review of 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and failed primary total elbow arthroplasties.
• Utilization of custom implants for bone loss and soft-tissue defects.
• Assessment of functional results at a mean follow-up of 35 months.

Main Results:

• Satisfactory functional results were observed in patients undergoing revision surgery.
• Revision surgery led to short- to medium-term pain-free function.
• Custom implants were frequently required to address complex bone and soft-tissue issues.

Conclusions:

• Revision surgery is a viable treatment option for failed total elbow arthroplasty.
• It offers significant pain relief and functional improvement.
• Revision surgery is the treatment of choice in the absence of infection.