Complications of total elbow arthroplasty

The indications for total elbow arthroplasty have been expanded beyond severe arthritis to include acute comminuted fractures. Advances in implant manufacturing and surgical techniques in recent decades have led to increasingly better results. Semiconstrained implants are most commonly used, followed by conversion-type and unlinked implants. However, the results are still worse than those of arthroplasty in the knee or hip joint, and various complications such as aseptic loosening, infection, bushing wear, and periprosthetic fractures still occur. As aging adults are increasingly indicated for surgery, we inevitably face complications that are not easy to control. In this review, we discuss intraoperative and late complications, their prevention, and treatment options.