Benefits of Elbow Replacement Surgery

The elbow joint is a hinge joint. It is made up of three bones – the Humerus (upper arm bone) and Radius and Ulna (forearm bones). Although elbow replacement surgery is not as common as the hip or knee replacement surgeries, it has to be performed for pain relief and disability caused due to damage to the elbow either due to trauma to the joint or due to degenerative disease like Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis.

Types of Elbow Replacement Surgery

Elbow replacement surgery is of two types – partial elbow replacement and total elbow replacement. Partial elbow replacement involves replacement of certain components of the elbow joint with prosthetic or artificial components. For total elbow replacement, the elbow is replaced with an artificial joint made from two implants that attach to the bones in the arm. A metal and plastic hinge joins the implants together.

Why is Elbow Replacement Surgery Performed

This surgery is performed when the joint is badly damaged causing a lot of pain and as a result you cannot use the arm. The damage to the elbow could be due to –

·         Degenerative diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis or Osteoarthritis

·         Trauma causing broken bones in the upper arm or the lower arm, near the elbow

·         Trauma resulting in badly damaged or torn tissues in the elbow

·         Tumor in or around the elbow

·         Stiff elbow

·         Poor outcome of a previously performed elbow surgery

Risks Involved

·         Infection

·         Damage to surrounding nerves or blood vessels

·         Allergic reaction to the artificial joint

·         Allergic reaction to medicines

·         Loosening of the components of the artificial joint

·         Stiffening or instability in the joint

·         Dislocation of the artificial joint

Benefitsof Elbow Replacement Surgery

After total elbow replacement surgery, the majority of patients have experienced an improved quality of life as comfort and function is restored to the damaged joint.They experience less pain, improved motion and strength of the arm, and better function enabling you to perform all basic activities of daily living. Elbow joint replacement surgery can improve the movement of the elbow, but cannot make the joint as good as it was before the damage. In many cases, the tendons and muscles around the elbow get weakened from prolonged disuse before the elbow replacement. After the surgery, it may take months of gentle exercises before the elbow has achieved complete improvement.Elbow exercises should be performed gently several times a day regularly.

The effectiveness of the elbow joint replacement surgery also depends on the health and motivation of the patient, the condition of the elbow, and the expertise of the surgeon. The greatest improvements are in the ability of the patient to sleep and to perform basic activities of daily living like lifting light objects like plates and glasses, cooking dinner, styling your hair, basic hygiene, and dressing. However for more strenuous activities the patient should consult the doctor about activities that he should avoid, such as contact sports and activities with a major risk of falling, as well as heavy lifting. These things increase the risk of the metal parts loosening or breaking, or the bone breaking.

Travcure Medical Tourism, one of the fastest growing medical tourism companies in India, can guide you to select skilled and competent surgeon for performing the procedure. They can also help you with Visa and other requirements such as appointments with the doctors, medical opinions, pick-and-drop facility from the airport, accommodation as per the patient’s requirement, and make the medical trip extremely comfortable.