OBJETIVO: Descrever a experiência inicial de quatro serviços ortopédicos com a artroplastia total do cotovelo (ATC) Bi-Contact® relatando os resultados e complicações do procedimento. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo, através da análise de prontuários, de pacientes submetidos à ATC primária com modelo de prótese desenvolvido junto ao IOT-HCFMUSP. Foram avaliados 46 cotovelos (45 pacientes) operados de 2000 a 2009 em quatro serviços ortopédicos. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino (74%) e a mediana da idade foi de 62,5 anos. Os diagnósticos encontrados foram sequela de trauma (47,83%), artrite reumatóide (32,61%), osteoartrose primária (8,7%), fraturas agudas (6,52%) e ossificação heterotópica (2,17%). A mediana do tempo de acompanhamento foi de 2,08 anos (0,25-9). O procedimento melhorou significativamente a dor e o arco de movimento. Foi evidenciada a presença de pelo menos uma complicação em 69,57% dos casos, sendo as principais infecção (28,26%), necessidade de revisão (28,26%), fratura intraoperatória (15,22%) e soltura asséptica (15,22%). CONCLUSÃO: A ATC do tipo Bi-Contact® propiciou uma melhora significativa na dor e no arco de movimento na presente série. O índice de complicação é alto, sendo as mais frequentes infecção, soltura asséptica e fratura intraoperatória.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the initial experience of four orthopedic clinics from using Bi-Contact® total elbow arthroplasty (TEA), reporting the results and complications of the procedure. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, through analysis on the medical records of patients who underwent primary TEA using a prosthesis model developed in conjunction with IOT-HCFMUSP. Forty-six elbows (45 patients) that were operated at four orthopedic clinics between 2000 and 2009 were evaluated. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female (74%), and the median age was 62.5 years. The diagnoses encountered were trauma sequelae (47.83%), rheumatoid arthritis (32.61%), primary osteoarthrosis (8.7%), acute fractures (6.52%) and heterotopic ossification (2.17%). The median length of follow-up was 2.08 years (0.25-9). The procedure significantly alleviated pain and improved range of motion. It was observed that at least one complication was present in 69.57% of the cases, and the main ones were infection (28.26%), need for revision (28.26%), intraoperative fracture (15.22%) and aseptic loosening (15.22%). CONCLUSION: Bi-Contact® TEA provided significant alleviation of pain and improvement of range of motion in the present series. The complication rate was high, and the most frequently observed complications were infection, aseptic loosening and intraoperative fracture.