Abstract
Six elbows in 7 patients with rheumatoid arthritis that received total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) with insertion of non-constrained prosthesis (Kudo elbow type 4 or 5) were examined. The patients were all female and the average age at operation was 58.1 years (range 49-63 years). The clinical follow-up was conducted for a mean of 3 years and 7 months (range 6 months-6 years and 2 months). In pre-operative Steinbrocker X-ray classification, there were 6 Stage III elbows and 1 Stage IV elbow. In each case, local findings (pain and swelling), radiographic study and range of motion were investigated, as well as ADL valuation.
In all cases, pain and swelling disappeared or diminished. Ranges of elbow flexion and forearm supination and pronation improved. In ADL, actions which require elbow flexion, such as washing the face, taking a meal and dressing improved. However, complications included 2 cases of ulnar neuritises and 1 case of prosthetic loosening. The findings suggest that TEA is effective for patients who demonstrate ADL disabilities due to pain and Imitation of ROM.
