Long-term outcomes and trends in elbow arthroplasty with Coonrad-Morrey prosthesis: a retrospective study in large group of patients

Purpose Total Elbow Arthroplasty (TEA) was first developed to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis, but its uses have grown to encompass end-stage osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and distal humeral fractures. This study analyzes indications changes, long-term survival, complications, and post-operative functional results of the Coonrad-Morrey prostheses, enhancing the existing literature on this technique and substantial case history. Methods We included 122 arthroplasties in 117 patients, 28 males and 89 females (mean age of 67 years) treated in our hospital between 2002 and 2016. Minimum follow-up was four years. We collect functional parameters of 48 patients (51 elbows), due to death of patients due to old age and loss at follow-up. Results Survival rate at five years was 90%, 85% at 10 years and 83% at 15 years. The overall medium Mayo elbow score was 79.7 +/- 18.3 with the highest result in osteoarthritis patients (p < 0.005); QuickDASH score was 33.1 +/- 25.5 with the worse result in rheumatoid group. Average post-operative arc of motion (ROM) was 95 degrees +/- 27 degrees. There were complications in 46 out of 122 cases (37.7%) and revision surgeries were performed in 12 of them (9.8%): seven aseptic loosening, four late septic loosening, one bushing wear. In 27 instances (22.1%) was reported ulnar nerve involvement. Conclusion Coonrad-Morrey prosthesis has shown satisfactory clinical results in the treatment of a wide range of pathologies. The long-term implant survivorship was satisfactory, yet the occurrence of failures and complications cannot be overlooked, above all the ulnar nerve paresthesia. There was a good recovery in quality of life, pain-free with limited residual limb disability.