Hwan Jin Kim1, Jung Youn Kim2, Young Moon Kee1, Yong Girl Rhee3. 1. Shoulder & Elbow Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-702, Korea. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Shoulder & Elbow Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-702, Korea. shoulderrhee@hanmail.net.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) and soft tissue reconstruction. METHODS: We investigated six patients who underwent TEA and soft tissue reconstruction (two elbows with 1-stage surgery and four elbows with 2-stage surgery). The mean patient age at the time of the surgical procedure was 43.2 years; the mean follow-up duration was 88.2 months. RESULTS: The mean pain visual analogue scale (VAS) during motion was improved from 6.3 pre-operatively to 0.7 at the last follow-up. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) improved from 26.7 pre-operatively to 81.7 at the last follow-up. The mean flexion-extension arcs of the 1- and 2-stage surgery groups increased from 12.5° and 13.8° pre-operatively to 72.5° and 100° at the last follow-up, respectively. The mean MEPS of the one and two stage surgery groups were 75 and 85, respectively, at the last follow-up. One of the six elbows had loosening on the simple radiograph at the last follow-up, and there were no cases with bushing wear. Three elbows needed additional skin debridement owing to wound complications (2/2 elbows in the 1-stage surgery group and 1/4 elbows in the 2-stage surgery group). CONCLUSIONS: Under unfavorable soft tissue conditions, performing soft tissue reconstruction with TEA provides satisfactory functional improvement and pain relief. The two stage surgery provided a lower rate of wound complication and better elbow function than the one stage surgery, which led to high patient satisfaction post-operatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) and soft tissue reconstruction. METHODS: We investigated six patients who underwent TEA and soft tissue reconstruction (two elbows with 1-stage surgery and four elbows with 2-stage surgery). The mean patient age at the time of the surgical procedure was 43.2 years; the mean follow-up duration was 88.2 months. RESULTS: The mean pain visual analogue scale (VAS) during motion was improved from 6.3 pre-operatively to 0.7 at the last follow-up. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) improved from 26.7 pre-operatively to 81.7 at the last follow-up. The mean flexion-extension arcs of the 1- and 2-stage surgery groups increased from 12.5° and 13.8° pre-operatively to 72.5° and 100° at the last follow-up, respectively. The mean MEPS of the one and two stage surgery groups were 75 and 85, respectively, at the last follow-up. One of the six elbows had loosening on the simple radiograph at the last follow-up, and there were no cases with bushing wear. Three elbows needed additional skin debridement owing to wound complications (2/2 elbows in the 1-stage surgery group and 1/4 elbows in the 2-stage surgery group). CONCLUSIONS: Under unfavorable soft tissue conditions, performing soft tissue reconstruction with TEA provides satisfactory functional improvement and pain relief. The two stage surgery provided a lower rate of wound complication and better elbow function than the one stage surgery, which led to high patient satisfaction post-operatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV.
Authors: David M Gay; Stephen Lyman; Huong Do; Robert N Hotchkiss; Robert G Marx; Aaron Daluiski Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2012-01-18 Impact factor: 5.284