Dislocation of the elbow: therapy and results of treatment

At our hospital, closed dislocations of the elbow without neurovascular or osseous lesion are treated conservatively after successful reduction in the absence of a tendency to redislocation. Indications for surgery are irredu cible dislocations and those with a tendency to redislocation as well as op en soft tissue injuries, neurovascular and osseous concomitant injuries. Du ring a period of 10 years 113 patients were treated according to this strat egy. Of these patients, 46 had simple dislocations of the elbow and 67 suff ered from dislocations with osseous lesions. In 95 patients follow-ups coul d be performed after a mean period of 55 months. In more than 75 % of cases good or excellent functional results were documented; unfavourable results were seen only in patients with osseous lesions; Nearly all of the patient s had a stable elbow joint at the end of therapy.