Elbow Replacement Surgery
New procedure is an option for arthritis patients
The world's first total elbow replacement was performed at Rhode
Island Hospital. The new procedure is a vast improvement on earlier elbow
replacement surgeries, which required the surgeon to choose between two
implant types, each with a limited success rate. Rhode Island Hospital orthopedist
Arnold-Peter Weiss, MD, headed the design team for the device, which is
manufactured by DePuy, a division of Johnson & Johnson.
The procedure is an option for patients with osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis, both of which can cause loss of motion and pain in
the elbow. Minor orthopedic surgery can sometimes correct the problem.
When it cannot, replacing the entire joint is the best option. For
children with arthritis, elbow replacement is an option only after the
bones have finished growing and the joint is severely damaged.
"This is the first artificial joint that allows complete
customization for patients with severe arthritis of the elbow," says
Weiss. "This gives the surgeon maximum flexibility in the procedure
and increases the longevity of the joint for the patient."
In the new procedure, the surgeon inserts two metal implants on
either end of the bones that connect the elbow. Another implant,
connecting the two implants, can be tailored to meet the movement needs of
the patient. A plus to the new joint is that each piece may be replaced
separately if there is a problem with it after surgery.
Compared to earlier implants, the new design reduces the stress on both
the bone and the implant, which lessens the chance that it will loosen and
need to be replaced.
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