Arthroplasty Research Updates

This single-institution series of 40 elbows (mean age 59 years, mean follow-up 9 years) evaluated total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) for post-traumatic sequelae after proximal ulna or radius fractures or fracture-dislocations. When successful, TEA provided pain relief and functional restoration, but overall revision rate was 28% with common complications including neurologic events, aseptic loosening, and deep infection; 10-year implant survival free of revision or resection was 73%.

In propensity‑score matched cohorts of 609 total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 609 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients, changes in joint‑specific PROMs (HOOS JR/KOOS JR) from preoperative to one year postoperatively were moderately to strongly correlated with PROMIS‑10 physical health (THA r=0.63; TKA r=0.56) and weakly correlated with mental health and quality of life. The strength of these correlations did not differ significantly between THA and TKA, supporting joint‑specific PROMs as reflective of overall physical health improvements.

In 18 RCTs totaling 2,908 patients aged ≥65 with displaced femoral neck fractures, total hip arthroplasty (THA) was compared with hemiarthroplasty. THA did not reduce revision surgery, all-cause mortality, or the composite of hip-related complications but was associated with a higher risk of dislocation and a small (non–clinically important) 5-point improvement in Harris Hip Score; hemiarthroplasty had shorter operative time and less blood loss.