Abstract

The Souter-Strathclyde unconstrained elbow prosthesis was prospectively studied in 36 patients (45 prostheses) with rheumatoid arthritis (Larsen grade 4 and grade 5). The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 63 years (range: 39 to 75 years). Eight patients (9 prostheses) died within five years of implantation, from causes unrelated to the elbow arthroplasty. One patient was lost to follow-up, leaving 27 patients (35 prostheses) for review. The mean length of follow-up was 98 months (range: 60 to 174 months). At 8.2 years follow-up, the prosthesis showed a probability of survival of 76% (SD 9%) with revision of the humeral component as an end point; the percentage dropped to 67% (SD 9%) when radiographic loosening was taken as an end-point. Survival of the ulnar component was 98%. Loosening of the humeral component seems to be related to both the short humeral stem and a persistent extension deficit.