Experience with the Coonrad-Morrey total elbow arthroplasty: 78 consecutive total elbow arthroplasties reviewed with an average 5 years of follow-up.

Background: The Coonrad-Morrey total elbow arthroplasty is a linked implant. This study investigated the hypotheses that reliable results can be obtained in rheumatoid patients and in traumatic conditions and that the survival rate is similar to or better than what has been published for nonlinked implants.

Methods: Surgery was performed on 70 consecutive patients (78 elbows) for an inflammatory arthritis (45 elbows) or a traumatic condition (33 elbows: 18 acute fractures of the distal humerus, 10 nonunions, and 5 post-traumatic arthritis).