Abstract
The DOH elbow prosthesis is a non-constrained type composed of a humeral mold with a stem (made of COP from 1985 and titanium alloy from 1987) and an HDP ulnar component with a stem.
The clinical and radiological results of 48 total elbow replacements in which such a prosthesis was implanted in 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were reviewed retrospectively. These cases were followed over at least 3 years (average 4.3 years) .
Final average motion did not decrease as compared with 3 months after the operation. Extension and supination were rather improved at the time of follow-up, and on radiographs there were no remarkable changes around ulnal components, but radiolucent lines were observed around humeral components in 18 elbows. The incidence of proximal migration was very high in non-cemented humeral components (5 in 9 elbows), and low in cemented humeral components (6 in 3 9 elbows) . Progression of the migration had a tendency to stop in time.
