title: Anterior elbow dislocation with recurrent instability.
abstract: Anterior elbow dislocations are often associated with severe soft tissue lesions. The mechanism of dislocation is usually an anteriorly directed blow on the proximal ulna after a fall on a flexed elbow. Simple anterior elbow dislocations are traditionally treated by closed reduction followed by a short period of immobilisation. Fracture-dislocations are usually unstable after reduction and necessitate surgical management. The authors report a case of acute anterior dislocation with a concomitant radial head fracture that was complicated by recurrent instability. The literature is reviewed to discuss a treatment strategy.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital (C.H.U. du Sart-Tilman), 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saouti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albassir
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fatemi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willems
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D000092464:Elbow Injuries