title: The effectiveness of turnbuckle splinting for elbow contractures.
abstract: We have treated 22 patients with an elbow contracture using a static progressive turnbuckle splint for a mean of 4.5 +/- 1.8 months. All had failed to improve with supervised physiotherapy and splinting. The mean range of flexion before splintage was from 32 +/- 10 degrees to 108 +/- 19 degrees and afterwards from 26 + 10 (p = 0.02) to 127 +/- 12 degrees (p = 0.0001). A total of 11 patients gained a 'functional arc of movement,' defined as at least 30 degrees to 130 degrees. In eight patients movement improved with turnbuckle splinting, but the functional arc was not achieved. Six of these were satisfied and did not wish to proceed with surgical treatment and two had release of the elbow contracture. In three patients movement did not improve with the use of the turnbuckle splint and one subsequently had surgical treatment. Our findings have shown that turnbuckle splinting is a safe and effective treatment which should be considered in patients whose established elbow contractures have failed to respond to conventional physiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph's Health Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gelinas
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013165:Splints; D013997:Time Factors