Osteocapsular debridement for elbow arthritis.

Open capsular debridement is an excellent option for the treatment of elbow arthritis. This technique is particularly indicated in a patient population physiologically younger than 60 years. Given the young age and high functional demand of patients with primary osteoarthritis of the elbow, prosthetic replacement is generally not recommended. Open capsular debridement preserves the native joint and thus does not inherently require permanent activity modification as does replacement arthroplasty.