Operative treatment of elbow arthritis.

There have been a number of recent developments in elbow surgery for arthritis and stiffness. Advances have occurred in our understanding of the basic biomechanics of elbow arthroplasty as well as in the long-term clinical follow-up of patients treated with these implants. In addition, treatment of elbow arthritis by nonprosthetic means, including arthroscopy and a variety of open procedures, has been further advanced by reports in the literature. An escalating interest in the role of and techniques for elbow arthroscopy has broadened the indications for this technique to expand into the area of treatment of the stiff elbow as well. This paper will discuss these three areas of elbow surgery as they relate to the treatment of elbow arthritis.