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ELBOW SURGERY
The elbow is a hinge joint consisting of three bones. The upper part of the hinge is at the end of the upper arm bone (humerus), and the lower part of the hinge is at the top of the two forearm bones (radius and ulna) which are side by side. When the elbow is bent, the ends of the two forearm bones rub against the end of the humerus.
Bones of Elbow Joint
In a healthy elbow joint, the surfaces of these bones are very smooth and covered with a tough protective tissue called cartilage. Arthritis causes damage to the bone surfaces and cartilage where the three bones rub together. These damaged surfaces eventually become painful.
Arthritic Elbow Joint Surfaces
There are many ways to treat the pain caused by arthritis. One way is total elbow replacement surgery. The decision to have total elbow replacement surgery should be made very carefully after consulting your doctor and learning as much as you can about the elbow joint, arthritis, and the surgery.
In total elbow replacement surgery, an artificial hinge made of metal and a very durable plastic material is inserted into the joint so that the elbow can move without allowing the two forearm bones to contact the humerus. We call this artificial hinge an "implant." |
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