To assess the effectiveness of open and minimally invasive techniques in the debridement of osteoarthritis of the elbow, we compared the Outerbridge-Kashiwagi (O-K) procedure with an arthroscopic modification in which arthroscopic debridement and fenestration of the olecranon fossa was performed.
The study took the form of a nonrandomized control trial in which subjects were allocated to a treatment depending on the hospital of presentation.
Assessment using the Mayo Clinic elbow function chart enabled comparison of the outcome in 18 cases treated by the O-K procedure and 26 patients treated by arthroscopic debridement and fenestration of the olecranon fossa. Mean follow-up was 35.3 months (minimum 12 months). Of the patients treated by the O-K procedure, 14 were men and 4 were women with a mean age of 55 years. In 83% of patients, the diagnosis was primary osteoarthritis, with the remainder post-traumatic arthritis. The patients treated by arthroscopic debridement and fenestration of the olecranon fossa included 24 men and 2 women with a mean age of 46 years, and a diagnosis of primary osteoarthritis in 91% and post-traumatic arthritis in the remainder. No patients were excluded from the study or refused to be included.
Both procedures were shown to be effective, with no major complications. Patients treated by arthroscopic debridement and fenestration of the olecranon fossa achieved better relief of pain (P <.10), whereas those patients undergoing the O-K procedure achieved significantly greater improvement in range of flexion (P <.05). No difference between the procedures in terms of patient-perceived overall effectiveness of the surgery was found.
In conclusion, in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the elbow, arthroscopic debridement and fenestration of the olecranon fossa may be a more suitable procedure when painful symptoms predominate. In contrast, the O-K procedure is a significantly better procedure for improving the range of flexion where this is a particular problem.