Treatment of complete ankylosed elbow with total arthroplasty

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 12; no. 7; p. e231123
• Main Authors: D’Ambrosi, Riccardo, Formiconi, Federica, Ursino, Nicola, Rubino, Maurizio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.07.2019; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Case Report
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Ankylosis - diagnostic imaging; Ankylosis - etiology; Ankylosis - surgery; Arthritis; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Elbow - methods; Case reports; Elbow; Elbow Joint - diagnostic imaging; Elbow Joint - surgery; Fractures; Fractures, Ununited - complications; Fractures, Ununited - surgery; Humans; Innovations in Treatment; Joint surgery; Male; Medical imaging; Olecranon Process - injuries; Pain; Patients; Physical therapy; Range of Motion, Articular; Surgery; Systematic review; Tendons; Transplants & implants; Trauma; Ulna Fractures - complications; Ulna Fractures - surgery; orthopaedic and trauma surgery; physiotherapy (sports medicine); hip implants; osteoarthritis; plastic and reconstructive surgery
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-231123

We reported the case of a 38-year-old patient who in 2017 presented to our institution after post-traumatic complete ankylosis of the elbow. He complained of stiffness and pain, and the radiographs revealed complete fusion of the humeroulnar joint. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) on admission was 31, and the elbow was fused at 90° flexed position. The patient underwent semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasty with Bryan-Morrey approach; after a 2.1 years follow-up, active arc of movement was 120°. The MEPS was excellent with a 100 points score, the patient was able to complete all activities of daily living. We did not report any complications. Total elbow arthroplasty has shown to be a good therapeutic option that make it possible to restore adequate functional range of motion and relieve pain in young patients with post-traumatic stiffness/arthritis of the elbow.