Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger.
Published
Journal Article
HYPOTHESIS AND BACKGROUND: An elbow contracture in a young person can be a devastating problem. Significant contractures will lead to functional loss of the extremity. Appropriately performed contracture release can have profound implications on the overall well-being of the patient. The purpose of this study was to report improvements in sagittal-plane range of motion and the complication rate following an anterior elbow release for flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 27 patients with a median age of 16.8 years who were treated surgically for elbow flexion contracture with an anterior approach. Follow-up was possible in 18 of these patients at an average of 31 months. An anterior approach was performed in all 18 patients, with 4 patients undergoing an additional posterior incision to address posterior structures limiting extension. RESULTS: Elbow extension improved by an average of 35°, from -54° to -19°. The mean total arc of elbow motion improved by 37°, from 65° to 102°. Two complications occurred: traction-related neurapraxia of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and transient neurapraxia of the posterior interosseous nerve. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Elbow contracture release through an anterior approach is an acceptable surgical option. Significant improvement is obtained with a low risk of complications.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Aldridge, JM; Katt, B; Rizzo, M; Beredjiklian, P; Urbaniak, JR
Published Date
- July 2020
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 29 / 7
Start / End Page
- 1394 - 1400
PubMed ID
- 32279987
Pubmed Central ID
- 32279987
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1532-6500
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.jse.2020.01.081
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States