Elbow Replacement

Elbow replacement  may be required in cases of elbow pain and disabilities, not responding to nonsurgical treatment and other alternative therapy.

Elbow Replacement (Elbow Arthroplasty) is very successful in terms of pain relief, motion and function. The candidate for total elbow replacement is one having end stage joint destruction due to any of the below mentioned causes:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Posttraumatic osteoarthritis
• Acute distal humerus fractures
• Distal humerus nonunions
• Extreme intrinsic stiffness/ankylosis
• Large posttraumatic bone defects
• Haemophilic arthropathy
• Reconstruction after tumor resection

In elbow replacement damaged joint surface is replaced with artificial components and fixed with or without cement. Artificial surface acts as a new joint surface providing painless mobility. There are different types of artificial component with varying cost are available in international market which are used in elbow replacement surgeries.

Partial elbow replacement is also an option for certain group of patients, where part of elbow joint is replaced.  Radial head replacement is another option where severely diseased head of radius is replaced with artificial component. Redial head replacement technique is best for patients where surgeon can not fix back multiple broken pieces of radial head back to normal in cases of complex elbow injuries. You can discuss with your surgeon which surgical option and component is good for you.