Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2025.66.273
An optimal position for elbow arthrodesis to accommodate modern daily living activities
Ivo Buhač
; Health Center Široki Brijeg, Široki Brijeg, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Damjan Dimnjaković
; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Igor Knežević
; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Bojanić
; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Aim To assess the optimal fusion angle of the elbow to ac
commodate the activities of daily living.
Methods The study enrolled 30 healthy adult volunteers
(mean age 24 years), who performed 29 activities with
an elbow brace fixed at various flexion angles (30°, 50°,
70°, 90°, 110°, 120°). The activities were divided into three
groups: the activities of daily living, personal care and hy
giene, and modern activities of daily living. Activity perfor
mance was scored on a scale previously designed to assess
the difficulty of performing a particular activity.
Results The highest overall score for all activities was at 90°
elbow flexion (79.70 ± 4.11), followed by 110° (76.17 ± 4.01)
and 70° (75.43 ± 6.64). For modern activities of daily living,
the highest score (43.77 ± 1.33) was also at 90°. The 90° an
gle also allowed the highest percentage (86.6%) of task
completion in all activity groups.
Conclusion Our study supports making elbow arthrodesis
at 90° of flexion, which may also be applied to modern dai
ly living activities. However, patients should be consulted
about the preferred angle for elbow arthrodesis, as no sin
gle fusion angle allows for the performance of all modern
daily living activities.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
352536
URI
Publication date:
31.8.2025.
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