Elbow Pain Specialist

What is elbow replacement?

Elbow replacement is a surgical procedure that involves taking out the damaged sections of bone in your elbow joint and replacing them with an artificial joint.

Your elbow consists of three bones that work together to create a hinge. These three bones are the:

• Humerus (upper arm bone)
• Ulna (outside forearm bone)
• Radius (inside forearm bone)

These three bones meet to form the elbow joint, where a combination of cartilage, membrane, and joint fluid keeps everything functioning smoothly. The bones are held in place by muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

If one or more of the bones or other essential structures in your elbow is damaged beyond repair, you might need to consider an elbow replacement.

What conditions might require elbow replacement?

Many conditions can cause elbow pain and disability. Most of these respond well to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medication, joint injections, and regenerative medicine techniques.

The conditions that tend to lead to elbow replacement surgery include:

Arthritis

There are numerous types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common kind, caused by the effects of wear and tear over the years. The protective cartilage wears away, the bones rub together, and the result is pain, inflammation, and stiffness that worsens over time.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the next most common type, but it has an entirely different cause. If you have RA, your immune system malfunctions, so it attacks the joint linings. You might also get post-traumatic arthritis in your elbow following a serious injury.

Severe fractures

If you have an accident and fracture your elbow, whenever possible, your provider at Western Orthopaedics, P.C., repairs the broken bones. Sometimes fractures are too extensive for repair, and elbow replacement is a better option.

Instability

Elbow instability tends to develop if you’ve had dislocation of the joint that leads to ligament damage. If the ligaments aren’t strong enough, they can’t hold the bones in place, so your elbow won’t work properly.

How is elbow replacement surgery carried out?

When you have total elbow replacement surgery, your provider at Western Orthopaedics, P.C., replaces the damaged ends of your humerus and ulna bones.

The artificial components in the replacement elbow consist of a hinge made of plastic and metal, with two metal stems. These stems fit inside your bones, where there’s a hollow area called the canal.

There are variations on this standard elbow replacement, so your provider can customize the surgery to fit your exact needs.

If you have elbow pain that isn’t improving despite following a comprehensive treatment program, call Western Orthopaedics, P.C., today or request an appointment online.