Total Elbow Replacement Surgery for Arthritis Relief and Improved Mobility
To help you discuss total elbow replacement surgery as a treatment option with your orthopedic surgeon, here 's a breakdown of this surgical procedure.
What Is Elbow Arthritis?
When the articular cartilage in the elbow wears out, the bone ends rub on one another, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and interference with the use of the arm. While elbow arthritis can result from injury, it is most often caused by general wear-and-tear due to aging.
There are conservative treatment options for elbow arthritis, including pain medications, steroid injections, splints, and lifestyle adjustments. However, elbow arthritis can also be treated with total elbow replacement surgery.
What Is Total Elbow Replacement Surgery?
Total elbow joint replacement surgery, also known as total elbow arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure for treating elbow arthritis, eliminating pain, and increasing the mobility of the elbow joint.
Your orthopedic surgeon may recommend elbow joint replacement surgery if the elbow arthritis is severe and has not responded to conservative treatment options.
How Is Total Elbow Replacement Surgery Performed?
The orthopedic surgeon will perform total elbow replacement surgery according to the following steps:
- Make an incision over the back of the elbow. Retract the muscles, and move the tendons and ligaments to expose the elbow joint.
- Create a smooth surface to attach the implants by trimming the damaged joint surfaces of the humerus, radius, and ulna.
- Hollow out the inside of the humerus bone and insert the prosthesis.
- Repeat this procedure on the ulna bone to prepare it for the ulnar component of the prosthesis.
- Prepare the humerus and ulna bones, and insert the components, ensuring proper movement of the hinge portion of the prosthesis.
- Test the joint through its range of motion.
- Irrigate the new joint with sterile saline.
- Suture the joint capsule, repair the muscles and tendons and suture the skin .
- Dress and bandage the elbow.
Following surgery, the patient will probably stay in the hospital for up to two days, with their arm in a sling or splint with bulky dressing.
What Happens After Total Elbow Replacement Surgery?
After surgery, the orthopedic surgeon will provide guidelines to promote healing and ensure a successful recovery, including:
- Elevate the elbow on a pillow above heart level and apply ice packs over the dressing to help reduce swelling and discomfort
- Perform occupational therapy (OT) after surgery and continue for up to 3 months to regain full range of motion of the elbow joint
- Have sutures removed after 10-14 days
- Keep the incision clean and dry
- Follow any specific instructions regarding activity and rehabilitation
- Eat a healthy diet
- Do not smoke
What Are the Risks and Complications of Total Elbow Replacement Surgery?
While most patients suffer no complications following elbow joint replacement surgery, the risks and complications may include infection, wound irritation, failure to relieve pain, and damage to the elbow joint, and surrounding bones and soft tissues.
Don 't let your elbow arthritis keep you in pain and away from the things you love. See if total elbow replacement surgery is right for you.
Cirugía de Reemplazo Total de Codo para Alivio de Artritis y Mejora de Movilidad
¿Qué es la Artritis de Codo?
Cuando el cartílago articular del codo se desgasta, los extremos óseos rozan entre sí causando dolor, hinchazón, rigidez y limitación funcional. Puede deberse a lesiones o desgaste por edad.
Opciones conservadoras: medicamentos para el dolor, inyecciones de esteroides, férulas y ajustes de estilo de vida.
¿Qué es la Cirugía de Reemplazo Total de Codo?
La artroplastia total de codo es una cirugía para tratar artritis, eliminar dolor y aumentar movilidad de la articulación.
Procedimiento
- Incisión en la parte posterior del codo, retrayendo músculos, tendones y ligamentos
- Preparar superficies dañadas de húmero, radio y cúbito
- Huecar el húmero e insertar la prótesis
- Repetir en el cúbito
- Insertar componentes asegurando correcto movimiento de la bisagra
- Probar rango de movimiento
- Irrigar con solución salina estéril
- Cerrar cápsula articular, reparar músculos y tendones, suturar piel
- Vendar el codo
Hospitalización: hasta 2 días, brazo en cabestrillo o férula con vendaje voluminoso.
Postoperatorio
- Elevar el codo sobre almohadas y aplicar hielo
- Terapia ocupacional hasta 3 meses para recuperar rango de movimiento
- Retiro de suturas 10-14 días
- Mantener incisión limpia y seca
- Seguir instrucciones de actividad y rehabilitación
- Dieta saludable, no fumar
Riesgos y Complicaciones
Pueden incluir infección, irritación de la herida, fracaso en aliviar dolor y daño a la articulación, huesos y tejidos circundantes.
No deje que la artritis de codo le limite; considere si la cirugía de reemplazo total es adecuada para usted.