Total Elbow Arthroplasty for a Complex Proximal Radius and Ulna Fracture—A Case for Expanding Indications

Case: We present a 79-year-old woman with a complex elbow fracture including a comminuted proximal ulna fracture, coronoid process fracture, and comminuted radial head fracture treated with primary total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). The patient completed an early therapy protocol and had complete healing. At 15 months postoperatively, she had full pronosupination and elbow arc of motion from 10 to 135° with no reported pain. Conclusion: Primary treatment of unstable, complex fractures of the proximal ulna and radius with TEA has not been previously reported in the literature. This case reports suggests that indications for primary TEA for traumatic elbow injuries in the elderly could be expanded.