Biologic Arthroplasty of the Elbow Joint

Kwon, Chil Soo; Jung, Byung Hyun; Kim, Yong Uck; Kim, Dong Soo

Abstract

The stiffness of the elbow joint is caused by trauma, infection, and ect. The conventional arthrop lasty and arthrodesis of this joint has been used but the indication is very limited because of unsati sfactory result. The Oganesyan external fixator, which was invented by Mstislav V. Volkov and Oganes V. Oganesyan in 1971, generally employes tne hinged-distraction apparatus to treat joint stiffness and flexion contracture. According to them, regeneration of both cartilage and underlying subchondral bony tissue is possible. These authors consider the main factor for regeneration of the cartilage af a destroyed joint surface to be early restitution of joint functions including unloaded motion and elimination of increased friction between the joint surfaces. From Jan. 1992 to Jan. 1994, We have experienced the 6 cases of stiff elbow who had been undergone biologic arthroplasty. The results were as follows; The gain of the average range of motion of the joint at final follow-up was 50.5°. The complications were mild pain in 2 cases, mild instability on exertion in 2 cases, recurrence of contracture in two cases and ulnar nerve irritation in one case. The complications affected no significant long term results except recurrence.