Description

• Results from destruction of articular surface between radiocapitellar and ulnotrochlear joints
• Characterized by pain and loss of motion, with swelling and instability in later stages

Epidemiology

Prevalence

• Elbow arthritis is uncommon.
• Affects males and females equally
• Primary osteoarthritis affects <5% of the general population.
• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have elbow involvement 20–65% of the time (1).
  • 5% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis will have isolated elbow involvement (1).

Etiology and Pathophysiology

• Primary osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, posttraumatic arthritis, septic arthritis, crystalline arthropathy, inflammatory arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions
• Primary osteoarthritis
  • Usually affects dominant arm of middle-aged males with history of repetitive arm use (throwing athletes, heavy laborers)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammatory attack on synovium with eventual damage to cartilage and bone
• Posttraumatic elbow arthritis
  • Most common in young males
  • Intra-articular radial head fracture can lead to radiocapitellar osteoarthritis.
  • Intra-articular distal humerus or proximal ulna fracture may lead to arthritic change.

Risk Factors

• History of strenuous, repetitive arm use
• Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory state
• Prior elbow trauma or fracture
• History of septic arthritis
• Hemophilia