Innovations in the Treatment of Hand and Elbow Arthritis. The Emerging Role for Uni-Elbow Arthroplasty

Uni-Elbow arthroplasty is an innovative alternative to radial head resection or implant removal in addressing painful radiocapitellar joint arthrosis. As an “arthroplasty” solution, it retains the biomechanical function of the elbow and obviates the potential complications of not having a radial head. Although its role is likely to evolve as clinical experience accumulates and reported outcomes increase in number, it may have a role in the setting of acute and chronic Essex- Lopresti lesions, and when previous radial head arthroplasty has resulted in capitellar arthrosis but when removal of the implant alone is felt to be contraindicated.