Elbow arthritis is an uncommon condition that can cause debilitating pain, stiffness,
or instability. The most common etiologies include rheumatoid arthritis, posttraumatic
arthritis, and primary osteoarthritis. Treatment begins with nonsurgical modalities,
including activity modification, anti-inflammatories, hand therapy, and corticosteroids.
Operative intervention may be considered once nonsurgical management has failed. Surgical
treatment depends on the underlying etiology, chief complaint, patient age, and functional
demand. Advances in technology, especially arthroscopic techniques, have expanded
the treatment options available to surgeons. The goals of treatment include pain relief
and restoration of functional range of motion. The purpose of this article is to review
the pertinent soft tissue and osseous anatomy, discuss the etiologies, review the
principles of diagnosis and evaluation, and finally, study the treatment options for
elbow arthritis.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 07, 2023
Accepted:
December 23,
2022
Received:
June 24,
2021
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related to this article.
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Copyright
© 2023 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
