title: Nonsurgically treated terrible triad injuries of the elbow: report of four cases.
abstract: This case series describes 4 patients with terrible triad injury of the elbow (dislocation with fractures of the radial head and coronoid) who were treated nonsurgically. Following nonsurgical treatment in this select group of patients, the elbow was well aligned, and the patients regained good elbow function. Three of these 4 patients had good results. One patient had surgery for residual stiffness, ulnar neuropathy, and a radial head deformity. We conclude that, in selected terrible triad cases, when the elbow is well aligned and the radial head and coronoid fractures are relatively small and minimally displaced after closed reduction and there is no mechanical block to motion, patients might regain good elbow function without surgery.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Thierry G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Guitton
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D000092464:Elbow Injuries