An elbow that's too badly damaged to repair or has developed advanced arthritis might require replacement. If you're facing the prospect of undergoing elbow replacement surgery, the highly skilled team at Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in North Kansas City, Missouri, can help. Their experienced surgeons carry out the most complex elbow replacement surgery with care and precision, restoring mobility and relieving your pain. Call Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine today to find out more, or use the online booking form to schedule a consultation.
Elbow replacement involves surgically removing damaged sections of bone in the joint and replacing them with artificial components.
Your elbow has three bones:
The three bones form a hinged joint – your elbow. They're supported and secured by tendons, ligaments, and muscles, with cartilage and joint fluid keeping the elbow operating properly.
If one or more of these bones or the soft tissues in your elbow suffer irreparable damage, you might need to consider elbow replacement surgery.
Conditions that most commonly lead to elbow replacement include:
Of the many kinds of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common. It arises as a consequence of years of wear-and-tear, which erodes the protective cartilage on the bones in your joints. The bones rub against one another, causing worsening pain, inflammation, and stiffness. A similar condition is post-traumatic arthritis following a serious joint injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), another widespread type of arthritis, is due to an immune system malfunction. It arises when your body attacks cells in your joint linings as if they were a threat like a bacteria.
Most fractures are repairable, and the Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team can fix even complex elbow fractures in many cases. However, if the damage is extensive and repair isn't possible, elbow replacement is the best option.
Elbow instability commonly follows joint dislocation or repeated dislocations that cause irreparable ligament damage.
To perform elbow replacement surgery, the Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team removes the damaged sections of your ulna and humerus.
In one method (linked elbow replacement), they implant artificial components consisting of a plastic and metal hinge and two metal stems. The stems fit inside the hollow area called a canal in your humerus and ulna.
An alternative (the unlinked method) is for patients with healthy tendons, muscles, and ligaments in their elbow. Your surgeon inserts the stems in the canals but uses your existing connective tissues to hold the stems in place and create the joint.
If you have elbow pain and want to find out if elbow replacement surgery could help, call Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine today and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
