Elbow Replacement Surgery

Overview

Elbow replacement surgery is a complicated procedure partly because the elbow has several moving parts that balance each other with great precision to control the movements of your forearm.

Your elbow can be damaged by problems ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to traumatic fractures. In some cases, the damage can be surgically repaired. But if the damage is extensive, your doctor might recommend elbow replacement surgery.

In elbow replacement surgery, the damaged joint is removed and an artificial (prosthetic) joint is inserted into your arm bones. Great care must be taken to avoid harming the large (ulnar) nerve that travels along the outside edge of the joint.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Experience and expertise. Mayo Clinic's orthopedic surgeons have expertise in all types of elbow prostheses. Mayo Clinic is among the leading medical centers in terms of volumes of joint replacement surgeries. Mayo Clinic surgeons host educational seminars to teach other surgeons the latest surgery techniques.
• Diagnostic and surgical innovation. Mayo Clinic doctors have developed a number of diagnostic examinations and surgical techniques to help make elbow replacement a highly effective treatment option.
• Research advances. Mayo Clinic's laboratories for Biomechanics and Motion Analysis are leaders in developing, modifying and patenting new prosthesis designs. Because of the work done in these labs, you have access to the latest elbow replacement treatment advances at Mayo Clinic. Some of the top prosthesis designs were developed in cooperation with Mayo Clinic surgeons.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
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