Elbow Interposition Arthroplasty With Meniscal Allograft

Abstract

Painful, end-stage elbow arthritis in young, active patients remains a challenging and unsolved problem. Lifetime weight-bearing restrictions make total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) an unrealistic and unsustainable option for most of these patients, and the alternatives for treating a failed TEA are limited and mostly unsatisfactory. Elbow interposition arthroplasty can provide good pain relief and reasonable restoration of motion while avoiding weight-bearing restrictions. However, resurfacing materials such as fascia, Achilles tendon, and skin are not durable and are likely torn or displaced. We propose using meniscus allograft as the interposition material, as it is strong, robust, and designed to resist high compressive and shearing loads. It can heal the native tissue, and the topological properties of an amphitheater-shaped meniscus wrapped in a semicircle anatomically simulates the native shape of the trochlea, conferring additional stability that abets concentric motion. We present a series of 5 patients who underwent meniscal allograft arthroplasty from 2021 to 2023 at a single institution. All patients had resurfacing with meniscus allographs with supplemental stabilization using a double internal joint stabilizer. All patients demonstrated improvement in pain and ulnohumeral range of motion. Our technique of meniscus allograft interposition arthroplasty demonstrates good short-term pain relief and functional improvement. Further follow-up is warranted to assess the longevity of the meniscus interposition. Level of Evidence: Level IV-treatment study.

Keywords: allograft; arthritis; arthropathy; arthroplasty; elbow; interposition; meniscus.