title: Case reports: ipsilateral shoulder and elbow arthroplasty using custom interlocking prostheses.
abstract: Ipsilateral shoulder and elbow arthritis is not an uncommon problem seen in patients of upper extremity surgeons. If arthroplasty is required in both joints, there is a significant risk of periprosthetic fracture resulting from the stress riser occurring between the implants. We report the placement of custom interlocking shoulder and elbow prostheses in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. The elbow prosthesis with an uncemented humeral component was placed followed 18 months later by a custom-designed shoulder prosthesis. An internal strut between the two prostheses was created. Seven years postoperatively, the patient was asymptomatic with no radiographic signs of impending failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University of British Columbia, 2nd floor, Unit 2C, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2B5. mark_mcconkey@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mark O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: McConkey
authors.forename: Abdullah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Baslaim
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Regan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004550:Elbow / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome