Capitello-Condylar total elbow arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis.

Twenty-one total elbow arthroplasties using the Capitello-Condylar design of Ewald were performed at the Denver Orthopedic Clinic from 1977 to 1986. Indications for operation included intractable pain unrelieved by medical therapy as well as late state III or IV rheumatoid arthritis. The average total elbow score at 48 months after operation was 89.5 points, including excellent pain and function ratings. Modest gains in motion occurred with lesser gains in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis than those of the adult variety. Forty percent of the elbows suffered some type of complication although most are successfully manageable. There was one clinical failure due to deep infection in a renal deficient patient.