• P Ljung, S Bornmyr, and H Svensson.
• Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
• Acta Orthop Scand. 1995 Feb 1; 66 (1): 59-63.

AbstractWound healing complications, predisposing to deep infection, are common following prosthetic surgery of the elbow. 50 capitellocondylar elbow prostheses were inserted, using a lateral approach, in 42 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The first 5 elbows were immobilized postoperatively for 5 days and the following 45 elbows for 12 days, because of delayed wound healing in 2 of the first 5 elbows. No wound healing complications were recorded in elbows immobilized for 12 days and elbow motion was not compromised. 5 elbows were investigated with laser-Doppler imaging (LDI) technique, both pre- and postoperatively. Postoperative LDI values were considerably higher than preoperative ones, indicating no impairment of local skin microcirculation. The authors conclude that the lateral approach is safe to use in prosthetic surgery on the elbow. Early mobilization can delay wound healing, but this can be prevented by 2 weeks of postoperative immobilization.

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