The elbow joint surfaces are made up of the humerus, radius, and ulna. The joint surfaces are covered by cartilage.

Certain conditions may indicate the need for a elbow joint replacement such as: osteoarthritis (shown), rheumatoid arthritis, fractures, persistent pain and reduced function.

A replacement joint can help alleviate pain and improve function. The replacement joint usually has two parts that fit into the humerus and the ulna and is made of metal and plastic.

Figure 1: Comparison of a normal elbow joint and a replacement elbow joint.
Figure 2: Normal elbow joint.
Figure 3: A damaged elbow joint.
Figure 4: Replacement elbow joint.