Thirty-one patients who underwent thirty-six total elbow replacements
between 1974 and 1977 were followed for a minimum of two years with an
average of 3.7 years. A scoring system was used to quantitate results.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and functional disability primarily
related to pain benefited most from the operation. Patients with
post-traumatic arthritis and disability secondary to loss of motion
benefited least. The over-all complication rate was 53 per cent and the
reoperation rate was 22 percent. However, only one-fourth of the
complications adversely affected the final outcome. Total elbow replacement
can give good results in carefully selected patients.