Implications of elbow arthrodesis for individuals with paraplegia

A 38-year-old woman who had a recent injury resulting in T-3 Frankel Class C paraplegia and a comminuted fracture of the right elbow is described in this case report. The elbow required an arthrodesis, but the position in which the elbow should be fused was not initially known. To illustrate to the rehabilitation team and the patient the advantages and disadvantages of each of two elbow positions under consideration for the arthrodesis, the author recruited an individual with paraplegia to demonstrate some activities of daily living with two elbow splints that stimulated the two positions of fusion being considered. The patient and the rehabilitation team concluded that the 30-degree flexion fusion offered more functional mobility than the 90-degree flexion fusion. At the completion of her initial rehabilitation, the patient was a full-time manual wheelchair user. She was independent in all self-care and transfers, including uneven transfers to heights of 22.9 cm (9 in) over and 45.7 (18 in) lower than the wheelchair seat. She drives a four-wheel-drive vehicle and is independent in stowing her wheelchair.