Fig. 1

A, B Elbow movements have caused a concentration of stress in the transition point between the part that is well fixed and the part that is mobile, which has caused the stem to break in that point. C, D The non progressive cases do not register this stress-shielding phenomenon, therefore the stem has never been well osteointegrated due to a mild instability that has never stopped until finding balance (looser prosthesis). E–H Example of progressive radiolucent lines with stress-shielding phenomenon IIB, where the stem was completely loose, and pain improved after prosthesis removal; therefore we recommended prosthesis removal without replacement in case of symptomatic loosening