Between 1978 and 1986, 59 patients received a GSB III elbow prosthesis, 6 of them in both elbows. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was the underlying cause in 51 of the patients and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) in 8. Of these, 24 patients (28 prostheses) have since died; 2, both operated on bilaterally, had had their implants for more than 10 years and had already been assessed for inclusion in the long-term follow-up. 2 patients, each with one elbow prosthesis, have been lost to follow-up and 3 males who are still living (2 with PTOA, one with juvenile RA) had their prosthesis removed before 10 years had elapsed. The remaining 32 patients (28 RA, 4 PTOA) with 36 GSB III elbows were examined clinically and radiologically after a mean period of 13.5 years. Pain was considerably reduced in 91.6%. Mobility was increased by 37° in those with RA and by 67° in those with PTOA. There were 3 cases of aseptic loosening and 3 of deep infection. The main complication was disassembly of the prosthetic component in 9 elbows (13.8%). This last group included 2 patients with postoperative fractures unrelated to the operative technique and one with neuropathic arthritis. Ulnar neuritis occurred in 2 patients. Since 87.7% of all the GSB III prostheses implanted in this period remained in situ, our results are comparable with those for hip and knee arthroplasty.
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Between 1978 and 1986, 59 patients received a GSB III elbow prosthesis, 6 of them in both elbows. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was the underlying cause in 51 of the patients and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) in 8. Of these, 24 patients (28 prostheses) have since died; 2, both operated on bilaterally, had had their implants for more than 10 years and had already been assessed for inclusion in the long-term follow-up. 2 patients, each with one elbow prosthesis, have been lost to follow-up and 3 males who are still living (2 with PTOA, one with juvenile RA) had their prosthesis removed before 10 years had elapsed. The remaining 32 patients (28 RA, 4 PTOA) with 36 GSB III elbows were examined clinically and radiologically after a mean period of 13.5 years. Pain was considerably reduced in 91.6%. Mobility was increased by 37° in those with RA and by 67° in those with PTOA. There were 3 cases of aseptic loosening and 3 of deep infection. The main complication was disassembly of the prosthetic component in 9 elbows (13.8%). This last group included 2 patients with postoperative fractures unrelated to the operative technique and one with neuropathic arthritis. Ulnar neuritis occurred in 2 patients. Since 87.7% of all the GSB III prostheses implanted in this period remained in situ, our results are comparable with those for hip and knee arthroplasty.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.