Late results of the Souter-Strathclyde total elbow prosthesis in rheumatoid arthritis. 6/19 implants loose after 5 years.
We performed total elbow replacement, using the Souter-Strathclyde prosthesis in 19 elbows of 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and followed the patients for 5 (1-11) years. Pain relief was achieved initially in all patients. The average range of flexion-extension was increased by 12 degrees and pronation-supination by 40 degrees. There were no infections. 1 patient sustained an intraoperative fracture of the medial epicondyle, 3 patients developed neuropathies and 1 patient had an immediate postoperative dislocation of the joint. At follow-up, 6 prostheses had radiographic loosening, with sagittal titling and migration of 4 humeral components. 2 patients had clinical symptoms of loosening.
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation