Customized 3D-Printed Resurfacing Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Severely Malunited Distal Humerus Associated With Posttraumatic Elbow Stiffness: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND

Posttraumatic elbow stiffness together with severe bony deformity of the distal humerus poses a great challenge for elbow surgery specialists. For young and high-demand patients suffering from grievous bony deformity but with no/mild joint degeneration, total elbow arthroplasty is not a suitable option, and hemiarthroplasty often results in a significant amount of bone stock loss, making it difficult to perform a revision procedure. Resurfacing arthroplasty has been applied in the shoulder, hip, and knee joints, as well as the radiocapitellar joint. However, resurfacing arthroplasty for the entire distal humeral articular surface was not available among current clinical studies.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 66-year-old male patient who presented with elbow stiffness and grievous malunion of the distal humerus due to delayed treatment after a distal humerus fracture. However, there was only mild joint degeneration observed at the proximal ulna and radius owing to long-term functional impairment. Total elbow replacement was not suitable considering certain inevitable manual labor he must attend. We customized a cementless and stemless resurfacing prosthesis for the distal humerus based on contralateral articular anatomy using a 3D-printing technique with Co-Cr-Mo alloy. The traditional cemented stem was replaced with criss-cross screws to provide primary stability. The bone-implant interface was covered with a 3D-printed trabecular-like porous structure for bone in-growth and several grooves designed for bone grafting, eventually forming a stable multinested mortise-and-tenon joint structure at the bone-implant interface. At the last follow-up, significant improvements in functional outcomes of the elbow joint were observed without any prosthesis-related complications. The patient was able to return to his previous manual labor and reported improved weight-bearing capability of the affected upper limb up to 25 kg without pain or instability. While he complained of postoperative ulnar nerve palsy, the symptom markedly improved at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The novel prosthesis we have designed for resurfacing arthroplasty of the distal humerus can provide adequate primary stability and bone in-growth capability, making it a reliable alternative for patients with severe bony deformity of the distal humerus and no/mild joint degeneration at the proximal ulna and radius, particularly young patients or those with high functional demands.