Clinical and radiological results of GSB III total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) with the GSB III prosthesis was performed in 32 patients (36 elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis between 2001 and 2009. At final follow-up, 31 patients (35 TEAs) were available for clinical and radiological evaluation. The mean follow-up period was 6.3 (2.0–10.3) years, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The mean Mayo elbow performance score was significantly improved from 48 points preoperatively to 83 points at final follow-up. The radiographic loosening rate was 14.3% for humeral components and 5.7% for ulnar components. There were 4 cases of intraoperative fracture and 1 case of humeral shaft fracture at 4 months after surgery. The rates for loosening and fracture were relatively low when compared with those in other studies of linked TEA. There were 2 cases of ulnar nerve palsy, but there was no deep infection or triceps disruption. The clinical results of TEA using the GSB III prosthesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were found to be satisfactory.