title: [Open arthrolysis for elbow stiffness: a report of 17 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the treatment effect of open arthrolysis for elbow stiffness.
  
  
  METHODS
  From Aug. 2007 to Apr. 2012, 17 cases of elbow  stiffness were treated with open arthrolysis,in which, 11 were post-traumatic stiffness and 6 elbow stiffness resulted from rheumatoid arthritis and  osteoarthritis. The preoperative Mayo elbow score was 65.1±16.4. Posterior middle approach was applied for 15 cases, and primary lateral approach  for 2 cases. The ulnar nerve release and antedisplacement were performed for 12 cases with series limited flexion. The mobile hinged fixator were applied  for 2 cases of unstable elbow after debridement of series hero ossification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With follow-up time for 6 to 41 months (average 13.1 months), all  the patients acquired the follow-up and evaluation. According to Mayo elbow score of the last follow-up, the score was 87.5±16.7, and compared with the  preoperation, the difference was significant: 9 cases were excellent, 6 good, 1 fair, and 1 poor, and the total excellent and good rate was 88.23%. The  active range of motion (ROM) of flexion-extension was 110.6°±27.5°. However, 1 case developed chronic infection, and 1 ulnar nerve symptom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In applying open arthrolysis to treat elbow stiffness, as long as we release completely and assure stable elbow and early postoperative  motion, we can get satisfying results.
authors.affiliation: Departmnet of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dian-ying
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhong-guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jian-hai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tian-bing
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Bao-guo
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092464:Elbow Injuries