Characteristics and outcome of 27 elbow periprosthetic joint infections: results from a 14-year cohort study of 358 elbow prostheses.

Elbow arthroplasty is increasingly performed in patients with rheumatic and post-traumatic arthritis. Data on elbow periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are limited. We investigated the characteristics and outcome of elbow PJI in a 14-year cohort of total elbow arthroplasties in a single centre. Elbow prosthesis, which were implanted between 1994 and 2007 at Schulthess Clinic in Zurich, were retrospectively screened for infection. PJI was defined as periprosthetic purulence, the presence of sinus tract or microbial growth. A Kaplan-Meier survival method and Cox proportional hazard analysis were performed. Of 358 elbow prostheses, PJI was identified in 27 (7.5%). The median patient age (range) was 61 (39-82) years; 63% were females. Seventeen patients (63%) had a rheumatic disorder and ten (37%) had osteoarthritis. Debridement and implant retention was performed in 78%, followed by exchange or removal of the prosthesis (15%) or no surgery (7%).The relapse-free survival (95% CI) was 79% (63-95%) after 1 year and 65% (45-85%) after 2 years. The outcome after 2 years was significantly better when patients were treated according to the algorithm compared to patients who were not (100% vs. 33%, p <0.05). In 21 patients treated with debridement and retention, the cure rate was also higher when the algorithm was followed (100% vs. 11%, p <0.05). The findings of the present study suggest that the treatment algorithm developed for hip and knee PJI can be applied to elbow PJI. With proper patient selection and antimicrobial therapy, debridement and retention of the elbow prosthesis is associated with good treatment outcome.

[Isolated coracoid fracture--open reposition and osteosynthesis--report of 3 cases]. / Die isolierte Coracoid-Fraktur--offene Reposition und Osteosynthese--Bericht über drei Fälle.

UNLABELLED: Usually coracoid-fractures are "chain-injuries" in association with complex shoulder injuries. Isolated fractures of the coracoid process are uncommon. In the literature there is no consensus about the treatment. The conservative method is generally advocated. For better recognizing the particularities of coracoid-anatomy and fracture-analysis we performed dissections on cadaver shoulders and also evaluated a useful radiologic technique for diagnosis. Between 1995 and 1997 three patients with isolated displaced coracoid-fractures had open surgical repair. The postoperative course was very good in all three cases with complete recovery of shoulder function. DISCUSSION: We believe that isolated coracoid-fractures with infero-lateral dislocation and loss of function should sustain open reduction and internal fixation with functional after treatment.