title: Open surgical release for contractures of the elbow.
abstract: Compared with arthroscopic release, open release is more commonly used for the treatment of stiff elbow. Flexion is recovered by releasing posterior tethering soft-tissue structures and by removing anterior impingement between the coronoid and/or radial head and the distal humerus. Extension is improved by releasing anterior soft-tissue tethers and by removing impingement between the olecranon tip and the olecranon fossa. Open elbow release is most commonly performed via ligament-sparing approaches. Ulnar nerve identification and transposition is recommended in the presence of nerve dysfunction or when correction of significant loss of elbow flexion is anticipated. Long-term improvement in flexion and extension can be expected with proper patient selection. Less predictable results are obtained in adolescent patients and in those with underlying traumatic brain injury.
authors.forename: Philipp N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Streubel
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D003286:Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery