title: Elbow joint position sense after total elbow arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple human experiments have shown that articular lesions can have a negative effect on proprioception. The influence of total elbow arthroplasty on joint position sense has not been reported so far. The purpose of the study was to evaluate proprioception, defined as a joint position sense, after total elbow arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 16 patients with unilateral semiconstrained linked total elbow arthroplasty and 21 healthy volunteers. The evaluation included measurement of active and passive reproduction of joint position sense of both elbows after surgery and the control groups. Reference angles included extension to 50° and 70° and flexion to 110°. We also assessed function of the elbow in arthroplasty group using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, and a visual analog scale for pain level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average value of error of passive reproduction of joint position for elbows after arthroplasty was significantly inferior for all evaluated positions compared with the contralateral elbow and with the control group, respectively, at 110° flexion: 4.3°, 2.7°, and 3.2°; at 70° extension: 4.9°, 2.9°, and 2.7°; and at 50° extension: 6.3°, 3.8°, and 3.8°. The average value of error of active reproduction of joint position for the arthroplasty group was also significantly inferior, respectively, at 110° flexion: 3.5°, 1.9° and 2°; and at 50° extension: 4.4°, 3.3°, and 3°.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proprioception in elbows that undergo total arthroplasty is significantly inferior compared with the contralateral site of the patient and in the healthy control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: przemyslaw.lubiatowski@rehasport.pl.
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lubiatowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lisiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ogrodowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bręborowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romanowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D057929:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Elbow; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011434:Proprioception; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Joint position sense; elbow; osteoarthritis; proprioception; total elbow arthroplasty