Abstract
Aim:
To investigate the clinical outcomes of elbows with post-traumatic stiffness treated by open surgical release.
Methods:
A retrospective review was completed on thirty-five consecutively managed patients who underwent an open elbow release for post-traumatic stiffness between 2007 and 2012. Pre-operative and post-operative range of motion (ROM), pain scores and functional outcomes were recorded.
Results:
Mean follow-up was 31 months (6–84). The cohort consisted of 20 male and 15 female patients with an average age at time of surgery of 34 years (17–59). The interval from injury to time of release was 26 months (6–180).
An improvement in mean ROM from 49° (0°–105°) to 102° (55°–150°) was obtained. The improvement in ROM in patients with pre-operative heterotopic bone was 61° compared to 45° in patients without heterotopic bone.
The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 44 pre-operatively to 82 at most recent follow-up. Mean VAS scores improved from 5.9 pre-operatively to 2.8 at most recent follow-up.
Patients rated the affected elbow a mean of 73% as compared to the contralateral/normal side (50–100%).
Apart from a 10% incidence of transient ulnar nerve neurapraxia in patients who had a medial or combined approach, complication rates and functional outcomes were comparable between medial, lateral and combined approaches.
Conclusion:
Open release for post-traumatic elbow stiffness results in satisfactory functional outcomes in the majority of cases, with no significant differences between medial, lateral or combined approaches.
