An elbow replacement is usually suitable for people who have arthritis. If you suffer severe pain, stiffness and disability, an elbow replacement should reduce your pain and help you to move your arm more easily.
An elbow replacement is usually suitable for people who have arthritis. If you suffer severe pain, stiffness and disability, an elbow replacement should reduce your pain and help you to move your arm more easily.
Simple painkillers such as paracetamol and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can help control the pain. Supplements to your diet may also help relieve your symptoms. You should check with your doctor before you take supplements.
Regular moderate exercise can help to reduce stiffness in your elbow.
A steroid injection into your elbow can sometimes reduce pain and stiffness.
Sometimes it is possible to have a smaller operation to remove inflamed tissue.
All these measures become less effective as your arthritis gets worse.
A variety of anaesthetic techniques is possible. The operation usually takes between one and two hours.
Your surgeon will make a cut on the back of your elbow joint and remove the damaged joint surfaces. They will then replace these with an artificial elbow joint made with metal, plastic, ceramic, or a combination of these materials (see figure 1). The elbow replacement is fixed into the bone using acrylic cement.
General complications
Specific complications
You should be able to go home after two to five days.
You will need to use a support for the elbow for six weeks.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Most people make a good recovery, have less pain and can move their elbow better. An artificial elbow never feels quite the same as a normal elbow. It is unlikely that you will be able to fully straighten your elbow.
An elbow replacement can wear out with time.
Elbow replacement (total)
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