Elbow arthroplasty is a surgical procedure that restores the elbow using a prosthesis. It is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, compound fractures, tumours, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The surgery can relieve or eliminate chronic pain and restore mobility to the damaged elbow. Read more about the details and costs of elbow arthroplasty in our article. You can also find out about the clinics and doctors who are the number one choice for patients travelling abroad for this procedure.
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What does elbow replacement with an endoprosthesis involve?
Elbow replacement surgery involves removing the damaged parts of the elbow and replacing them with metal and plastic parts (implants). This procedure is also called an endoprosthetic replacement. It usually takes 1,5 hours and is performed under general anaesthesia.
To reach the elbow joint, the surgeon makes an incision at the back of the elbow. Through this, he gently pulls the muscles aside and gains access to the bone. After removing the joint and the pathological tissue around it, the shoulder and elbow bones are prepared for the implant.
The replacement legs of the prosthesis are placed in the humerus and ulna and held in place with bone cement. For this purpose, the two rods are connected with a hinged pin.
Some newer types of elbow endoprostheses are fixed without a joint and use the patient’s ligaments. These are so-called “unlinked” prostheses. They are not suitable for everyone. Only some patients without ligament damage can have these implants.
After the elbow prosthesis has been inserted, the wound is closed with sutures. A soft bandage is placed over the incision to protect the operated area while it heals. In some cases, a small tube is placed in the joint to drain the fluid. It is removed within 2-3 days after the intervention.
The operation has traditionally had a higher rate of complications than hip or knee replacement. But advances in modern surgical techniques and new implant designs increase the success rate of such interventions and minimise side effects.
The day after surgery, rehabilitation begins. An exercise therapist works with the patient. After about a week, the patient is given massages, electrical stimulation, hand exercises, etc.
Recovery from elbow arthroplasty takes about 3 months. Once the joint is completely healed, most patients completely lose pain in the elbow and have significantly improved mobility and functionality.
For more information on elbow replacement abroad, contact the coordinating doctors at MediGlobus International Medical Platform. Please fill out our contact form and wait for a call from our specialist.
Price of elbow replacement in Turkey
Turkey is a leading country in medical tourism. Patients often choose local hospitals because of their price-to-quality ratio. The cost of elbow replacement in Turkish hospitals is about 20-30% cheaper than in hospitals in central Europe or some Middle Eastern countries. The estimated cost of an elbow replacement starts at $10,000.
The top orthopaedists and trauma surgeons in Turkey who specialise in elbow prosthetics are considered to be Professor Erden Ertürer and Professor Haldun Orhun. Erden Ertürer practices at Liv Ulus Hospital and Haldun Orhun at Ataşehir Memorial. They have been practising for over 20 and 30 years respectively.
You can have your elbow replaced with an endoprosthesis at medical centres in Turkey:
Read: Cost of elbow arthroplasty in Spain
By European standards, the price of elbow arthroplasty in Spanish clinics is average. The cost of the procedure is around €13,000. The leading hospitals in the orthopaedic sector are those of the Quiron Salud network and the University Hospital of Navarra.
What is the price of elbow arthroplasty in the Czech Republic?
The cost of elbow replacement with an endoprosthesis in Czech hospitals starts at €12,000. This operation can be done at the Motol University Hospital, the Faculty Hospital in Brno and the Homolz Clinic. The leading specialists in endoprosthetics in the country practice here. Professor Tomáš Trč is one of them. He has been treating and replacing joints for more than 30 years.
In some Czech medical centres, you can undergo pre- and post-operative physiotherapy together with the joint replacement procedure. This makes it easier for you to get through the procedure and recover from it more quickly.
In the Czech Republic, patients in need of arthroplasty have access to prostheses from global manufacturers Zimmer, DePuy, and Biomet. The products of these companies are renowned for their long service life, high functionality and reliability.
Price of an elbow replacement in South Korea
The cost of elbow arthroplasty in South Korean hospitals is much lower than in clinics in Europe with the same level of medical care. The starting price for this operation is $11,000.
The major medical centres in South Korea use orthopaedic navigation systems to perform elbow replacement surgery. This allows the orthopaedic surgeon to plan the procedure in detail and achieve high accuracy of implant placement. The use of such systems reduces the need for revision surgery by 97%.
In South Korea, you can have joint replacement surgery at medical centres such as:
Cost of elbow arthroplasty in Germany
The cost of elbow replacement surgery with an endoprosthesis in Germany starts at €13,000. It varies depending on the type of intervention, the level of the clinic, the country’s price policy, the doctor’s qualifications and the type of prosthesis. German doctors place a high value on quality, so they offer their patients the most reliable implants from proven manufacturers such as Zimmer, Johnson & Johnson, Lima and Biomet.
For arthroplasty, patients most often go to university-based hospitals, such as:
Elbow replacement in Poland
Poland is an ideal option for European patients looking for joint replacement. This is not only due to the comfortable location of the country, but also the affordable price policy.
The cost of elbow arthroplasty in Polish clinics is twice as cheap as in other EU countries. The quality of medical services is not compromised.
In Poland, arthroplasty costs start at €10,000 and can be done at the KCM Clinic.
Reviews of elbow arthroplasty abroad
Clinic: Medicana Ataşehir
Procedure: Elbow replacement
Patient’s age: 35 years
Patient from: Kyiv
Inga: “I had my elbow replaced with an endoprosthesis. I had the operation because I could no longer tolerate the pain and discomfort of rheumatoid arthritis. Over several years, the disease had practically destroyed my elbow joint. In the end, endoprosthesis was my only remaining option. The surgery was done by doctors at the Medicana Ataşehir clinic in Turkey. It lasted about an hour and a half. I was under anaesthesia and didn’t feel anything. When I woke up, I felt a little bit sick, but it passed. It was unusual not to feel any pain or move my arm. But it felt good, as that infernal pain was not there at all. On the second day, I started the initial rehabilitation. I spent a total of a week in the clinic. Then I had additional rehabilitation. I fully recovered after about 3 months. My arm is working well now. I didn’t think I could feel so free and healthy again.”
Resume
Elbow arthroplasty involves replacing the damaged joint with a prosthesis. The operation takes 1-2 hours under general anaesthesia. After the implant is placed, the pain in the elbow subsides and its function is restored.
The medical centres most often chosen by patients for elbow arthroplasty abroad are Liv, Motol, Medicana, Teknon, Uniclinic of Cologne and Navarra, KCM, Motol, SoonChunHyang, Anam, SNUH, etc.
The cost of elbow replacement surgery varies depending on the type of implant, the level of the clinic, the surgeon’s fees and other criteria. The approximate starting price for this operation abroad is $10,000.
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