Arthroscopic treatment of post-traumatic elbow stiffness.
OBJECTIVE
The treatment of post-traumatic elbow stiffness has seen many important changes over the years, particularly through the development of arthroscopy, greater knowledge of anatomy and improvements in operative techniques, that reduce the incidence of complications and facilitate postoperative recovery. In this study mid-term clinical results of arthroscopy for post-traumatic elbow stiffness are evaluated in 15 sporting patients, with an average age of 32 years.


METHODS
Eight patients reported post-traumatic stiffness due to fracture of the radial head, 3 to fracture-dislocation, 1 to fracture of the radial diaphysis complicated by osteosynthesis, and the remaining 3 patients to stress syndromes with osteochondral detachment. Surgical treatment consists in debridement, arthroscopic capsular release, and removal of bone fragments by arthroscopy. Patients were followed up from 4 up to 36 months, with a mean follow-up time of 18 months.


RESULTS
Results obtained have been good to excellent in 84% of cases with an average range in postoperative movement of 13 degrees-137 degrees and reduction in pain symptomatology. The statistic results obtained from this study, under the same conditions and with a confidence interval = 0.01, show that the treatment will have favorable outcomes in 63% of patients of entire population (0.6285<P<1).


CONCLUSIONS
In light of our mid-term clinical results on a small series of cases, arthroscopic surgical treatment would appear to be an acceptable option in management of the post-traumatic stiff elbow.
Salini
V
V
Orthopedic and Traumatologic Department, G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy. vincenzosalini@virgilio.it
Palmieri
D
D
Colucci
C
C
Croce
G
G
Castellani
M L
ML
Orso
C A
CA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092464:Elbow Injuries