Anatomy of the elbow and how It affects implant design

The elbow is considered a complex joint because it is composed of three closely connected articulations: the ulnohumeral joint, the radiohumeral joint, and the proximal radioulnar joint. A thorough knowledge of the morphology of the elbow has important implications on implant design. Indeed, the advancement in our understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the elbow in recent years has led to an improvement in the design of prostheses, which has in turn increased the indications and clinical results associated with such implants. The aim of this chapter is to provide a detailed description of the morphology of the distal humerus, proximal radius, and proximal ulna, which is critical to the design of an anatomical implant.