Influence of Remained Medial Osteophyte on the Outcome after Ulnohumeral Arthroplasty

Objective: The authors reported the long-term results of ulnohumeral arthroplasty (UHA) for symptomatic elbow osteoarthritis. UHA does not allow access to the medial ulnohumeral osteophyte and to the radiohumeral joint, and the influence of remained medial ulnohumeral osteophyte on the outcome is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of remained medial osteophyte on the outcome in a much larger sample size. Methods: Fifty-eight elbows in 51 patients with elbow osteoarthritis underwent UHA and were evaluated. Before surgery, all patients complained of motion pain and loss of flexion-extension arc of the elbow. Preoperative evaluation and the outcome at follow-up were assessed using Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), and medial ulnohumeral osteophyte was assessed in anteroposterior radiograph. Results: Forty-one elbows had no pain and 17 decreased pain. The average flexion-extension arc improved from 93° preoperatively to 107°postoperatively. Total MEPS improved from 69 to 91. The result was excellent for 40 elbows (69%), good for 14 (24%), fair for four (7%) and no poor case. Patients’ satisfaction showed that fifty (86%) were satisfactory subjective result and eight (14%) were unsatisfactory result. The preoperative flexion-extension arc was factors for predicting postoperative results. Remained medial ulnohumeral osteophyte was related to decreased arc of the flexion-extension but not patients’ satisfaction and pain scale. Conclusions: Remained medial ulnohumeral osteophyte was related to decreased arc of the flexion-extension but not patients’ satisfaction and pain scale after UHA.