Souter-Strathclyde total elbow arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis: medium-term results.
We present the outcome of 47 Souter-Strathclyde replacements of the elbow with a mean follow-up of 82 months (12 to 129). The clinical results were assessed using a condition-specific outcome measure. The mean total score (maximum 100) before the operation was 47.21 and improved to 79.92 (p < 0.001). The mean pain score (maximum 50) improved from 21.41 to 46.70 (p < 0.001) and the mean functional component of the score (maximum 30) from 11.19 to 18.65 (p < 0.001). There was negligible change in the score for the range of movement although a significant improvement in mean flexion from 124 degrees to 136 degrees was noted (p < 0.001). Revision surgery was required in four patients, for dislocation, wound dehiscence and early infection in one, late infection in two and aseptic loosening in one. The cumulative survival was 75% at nine years for all causes of failure and 97% at ten years for aseptic loosening alone. Our study demonstrates the value of the Souter-Strathclyde total elbow arthroplasty in providing relief from pain and functional improvement in rheumatoid patients.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Sunderland Royal Hospital, Kayll Road, Sunderland SR4 7TP, UK. mkhatri9@hotmail.com
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000379:methods*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome