Bone as a cement restrictor in elbow arthroplasty.

Elbow arthroplasty is performed less often than hip or knee arthroplasty. The most common reason for patients requiring elbow arthroplasty is chronic inflammatory joint disease, usually rheumatoid arthritis.1 Two main types of prostheses exist, linked and nonlinked. Prosthesis fixation in bone is achieved with bone cement in almost all linked and non-linked prostheses.2 Cement restrictors prevent migration of cement and ensure a good cement-bone interface by increasing the cement penetration in bone. The commercially available polyethylene and silicone restrictors are too big for the ulna, migrate, and poorly contain cement, even when used in the distal humerus.3 This article presents a technique that uses bone chips to fashion an effective cement restrictor for elbow arthroplasty.