Rheumatoid Elbow

Kudo H, Iwano K, Watanabe S. Total replacement of the rheumatoid elbow with a hingeless prosthesis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1980 March 62(2) 277-85. 

Ljung P, Jonsson K, Rydholm U. Short-term complications of the lateral approach for non-constrained elbow replacement. Followup of 50 rheumatoid elbows. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1995 November 77(6) 937- 2. 

Arthritis Arthritis is the general term for chronic pain in the joints the fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and feet. There are two types of arthritis— rheumatoid arthritis, which results from an inflammation of the thin membranes that line the joints, and the more common osteoarthritis, which results from a... 

The joints affected most frequently by rheumatoid arthritis are the small joints of the hands, wrists, and feet (Fig. 89-3). In addition, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles may be involved. Patients usually experience joint stiffness that typically is worse in the morning. The duration of stiffness tends to be correlated directly with disease activity, usually exceeds 30 minutes, and may persist all day. Chronic inflammation with lack of an adequate exercise program results in loss of range of motion, atrophy of muscles, weakness, and deformity. 

Rheumatoid nodules occur in 20% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These nodules are seen most commonly on the extensor surfaces of the elbows, forearms, and hands, but also may be seen on the feet and at other pressure points. They also may develop in the lung or pleural lining of the lung, and rarely in the meninges. Rheumatoid nodules usually are asymptomatic and do not require any special intervention. Nodules are observed more commonly in patients with erosive disease. ... 

Rittmeister M., and F. Kerschbaumer. 2001. Grammont reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and nonreconstructible rotator cuff lesions. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 10 17-22. 

Elbow is one of the most complex articular anatomy of human joint. Distal humerus, Proximal radius, and Proximal ulna are three elbow joint bones which are connected by tendons, ligaments and muscles [1]. Most famous disease that can affect normal elbow s function is rheumatoid arthritis that weaken the function status of patient. Total elbow arthroplasty can be the best decision for those patients that has advance elbow dysfunction, regarding to relive the pain and restore the normal physiological function [2]. Like all other joint replacement some complication such as instability, loosening, dislocation, polyethylene wear and infection, has restricted the long term survivorship of Total elbow arthroplasty [3]. 

Morrey BF, Adams RA, (1992) Semi constrained arthroplasty for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow. Journal of Bone Joint Surg Am. 74 479-490... 

Fig. 8.68a,b. Synovitis of the elbow joint posterior joint recess, a Longitudinal 12-5 MHz US image over the posterior olecranon recess with b T2w SE MR imaging correlation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis presenting with painful elbow and loss of extension. US shows a bulk of hypoechoic synovial pannus fiUing the recess (arrows). Deep to the triceps muscle (tm), the posterior fat pad (asterisks) is elevated by the pannus. Note the prominence of the tip of the olecranon (O) and the humeral trochlea (TR) bulging within the recess... 

Fig. 8.71a,b. Synovitis of the elbow joint pitfall. a,b Transverse 12-5 MHz US images over the posterior olecranon recess a in a normal subject and b in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and an olecranon recess (arrows) appears markedly distended by fluid. In a, the normal hypoechoic fat contained. In b the olecranon fossa, between the lateral (LE) and medial (ME) epicondyles, should not be confused with the synovitis process shown in b. In doubtful cases, careful dynamic examination with elbow flexion and extension movements may be helpful for the diagnosis. Note the erosion (arrowhead) on the posteromedial aspect of the lateral epicondyle. T, distal triceps tendon... 

Sperling JW, et al. Total shoulder arthroplasty versus hemiarthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulder results of 303 consecutive cases. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2007 16(6) 683-90. 

Dee R. Total replacement arthroplasty of the elbow for rheumatoid arthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1972 February 54(l) 88—95. 

Trepman E, Vella IM, Ewald FC. Radial head replacement in capitellocondylar total elbow arthroplasty. 2- to 6-year followup evaluation in rheumatoid arthritis. J Arduoplasty 1991 March 6(l) 67-77. 

Poll RG, Rozing PM. Use of the Souter-Strathclyde total elbow prosthesis in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1991 September 73(8) 1227—33. 

Ewald EC, Simmons Jr. ED, Sullivan JA, Tliomas WH, Scott RD, Poss R, et al Capitellocondylar total elbow replacement in rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term results. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1993 April 75(4) 498-507. 

Ovesen J, Olsen BS, Jdiannsen HV, Sojbjerg JO. Capitellocondylar total elbow replacement in late-stage rheumatoid arthritis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2005 July—August 14(4) 414—20. 

Landor 1, Vavrik P, Jahoda D, Guttler K, Sosna A. Total elbow replace ment with the Souter-Strathclyde prosthesis in rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2006 November 88(ll) 1460-3. 

Sjoden GO, Lundberg A, Blomgren GA. Late results of the Souter-Strathclyde total elbow prosthesis in rheumatoid arthritis. 6/19 implants loose after 5 years. Acta Orthop Scand 1995 October 66(5) 391. ... 

Gill DR, Morrey BF. The Coonrad-Morrey total elbow arthroplasty in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis. A ten to fifteen-year followup study. J Bone JtSurg 1998 September 80(9) 1327-35. 

Brinkman JM, de Vos MJ, Eygendaal D. Failure mechanisms in uncemented Kudo type 5 elbow prosthesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis 7 of 49 ulnar components revised because of loosening after 2-10 years. Acta Orthop 2007 April 78(2) 263-70. 

Rauhaniemi J, Tiusanen H, Kyro A. Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical and radiological results. J Hand Surg [Br] 2006 April 31 (2) 162-7. 

Tanaka N, Kudo H, Iwano K. Sakahashi H. Sato E. Ishii S. Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis a long-term follow-up study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2001 October 83-A(10) 1506-13. 

Little CP, Graham AJ, Karatzas G, Woods DA, Carr AJ. Outcomes of total elbow arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis comparative study of three implants. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2005 November 87(ll) 2439 8. 

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