title: Surgical management of the elderly elbow.
abstract: The elbow has a major role in helping with the positioning of the hand in space. Any pathology of the joint can result in pain, loss of function and difficulties with activities of daily living. With an increasingly elderly population the degenerative conditions affecting the elbow are becoming more prevalent. Besides traumatic injury, the more commonly encountered problems are osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, nerve compression and stiffness. An awareness of these conditions is important for those who provide care to this patient group. Whilst many of these conditions can be managed conservatively in primary care, some patients are referred to secondary care and elect for surgical treatments. This review considers the surgical treatments for the common elbow pathologies in the elderly population, including the potential complications associated with such treatments.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7HE, United Kingdom. Electronic address: vnaomigibbs@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Science, The Botnar Research Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: rob.middleton@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Science, The Botnar Research Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jonathan.rees@ndorms.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D020430:Cubital Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
keywords: Cubital tunnel syndrome; Degenerative elbow; Elbow osteoarthritis; Elbow stiffness; Elbow surgery; Surgical complications