[Arthroscopy in stiff elbow: report of 32 cases].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the contribution of arthroscopic management of moderately stiff elbows resulting from traumatic or degenerative causes.


METHODS
Elbow arthroscopy was performed in 32 patients with moderately stiff joints; mean preoperative range of motion was 94.8 degrees . Most of the procedures consisted in an anterior approach followed by a posterior approach. Anterior capsulotomy was performed in 5 elbows and joint "cleaning" in the others. The Kashiwagi Outerbridge technique was employed for two elbows.


RESULTS
Mean gain in range of motion was 25 degrees. There was a postoperative loss of range of motion in three cases. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. Eighty percent of patients considered arthroscopy provided an improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Elbow arthroscopy for stiff joint of various causes is a difficult procedure which in our experience has provided a gain in range of motion comparable with other series reported in the literature. Elbow arthroscopy could be a less invasive alternative to open surgery for moderately stiff joints.
Conso
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C
Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital Foch, 40 rue Worth, 92150 Suresnes. christel.conso@club-internet.fr
Bleton
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R
D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies