ELBOW ALLOGRAFT FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ELBOW WITH MASSIVE BONE LOSS - LONG-TERM RESULTS

Transplantation of total elbow allografts has been used as a salvage p rocedure in an attempt to provide patients with functional, painless r ange of motion of the elbow, This procedure is appropriate for patient s with massive bone loss after trauma, tumor resection, or revision el bow arthroplasty, During the past 20 years, 23 patients have undergone elbow allograft reconstruction with variable results and a high compl ication rate, Ten of 14 patients with elbow allografts observed for an average of 7.5 years report satisfactory results, Allograft removal w as required in six patients: for infection (two), instability (three), and nonunion and resorption (one), Three patients with instability ha ve since undergone successful total elbow arthroplasty, Two patients h ave been observed less than 1 year and another patient died during the study period, Complications occurred in 16 of 23 patients, This opera tion is not recommended for routine use and is viewed as a salvage pro cedure, The use of allografts in elbow reconstruction does not preclud e subsequent reconstruction with another allograft or fusion, In patie nts with deficient bone stock, the allograft reestablishes bone mass t o permit an arthrodesis or reconstructive arthroplasty.