Total elbow arthroplasty failure due to overuse, C-ring failure, and/or bushing wear

Semiconstrained, linked total elbow arthroplasty gives excellent functional results. However, the complication rate is relatively high, and complications are frequently significant enough to require revision surgery. The purpose of this study is to report on bushing wear and C-ring failure as a mid- to late-term complication of the Coonrad-Morrey total elbow arthroplasty. Two surgeons at different institutions treated 10 patients who had a previous Coonrad-Morrey total elbow arthroplasty and presented with C-ring and/or bushing wear. There were 8 men and 2 women. The mean age at the time of the initial total elbow arthroplasty was 54 years (range, 37–67 years). Time to revision averaged 60 months (range, 9–156 months). Common associated factors were posttraumatic arthritis (3), supracondylar nonunion (5), male sex, young age, and high activity level. A proposed mechanism of failure is postulated.