J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2022 Feb;57(1):44-52. 10.4055/jkoa.2022.57.1.44.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes between Arthroscopic Anterior Compartment Debridement with Posterior Compartment Mini-Open Debridement and Arthroscopic Both Compartments Debridement of the Primary Elbow Osteoarthritis

• Cheon SJ
• Moon KP
• Seo HE
• Kang JH

• KMID: 2525476
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2022.57.1.44

Abstract

Purpose
This study analyzed the effectiveness of arthroscopic anterior compartment debridement with posterior mini-open debridement in patients with mild or moderate primary elbow osteoarthritis (OA). The clinical results of arthroscopic anterior compartment debridement with posterior mini-open debridement were compared with that of arthroscopic both compartments debridement.
Materials and Methods
Between January 2010 and December 2016, 46 patients diagnosed with elbow OA underwent arthroscopic anterior compartment debridement with posterior mini-open debridement or arthroscopic anterior and posterior compartments debridement arthroscopic surgery. Of these, 27 patients were finally included in this study. The data were collected retrospectively from the medical records. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the surgical procedure: group 1 (n=16) received arthroscopic anterior compartment debridement with posterior mini-open debridement surgery, and group 2 (n=11) received arthroscopic anterior and posterior compartments debridement surgery. The elbow flexion-extension range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) were analyzed for the clinical outcome before surgery and the last follow-up visit after surgery.
Results
The average follow-up period was 21 months (15–32 months). All clinical outcomes (ROM, VAS, and MEPS) were improved after surgery compared to those before surgery (p<0.05) in both groups. Group 1 showed further improvement in flexion (p=0.001) and total ROM (p=0.011) than group 2. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in extension, VAS, and MEPS between the two groups.
Conclusion
In patients with primary elbow OA, arthroscopic anterior compartment debridement with posterior compartment mini-open technique produced an excellent clinical outcome after surgery and was particularly helpful in increasing flexion and the total ROM.

Keyword

elbow joint; osteoarthritis; arthroscopic debridement; posterior compartment mini-open debridement