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Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Aldridge, JM; Katt, B; Rizzo, M; Beredjiklian, P; Urbaniak, JR
Published in: J Shoulder Elbow Surg
July 2020

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.

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Published In

J Shoulder Elbow Surg

DOI

EISSN

1532-6500

Publication Date

July 2020

Volume

29

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1394 / 1400

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Orthopedics
  • Male
  • Joint Capsule Release
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Elbow Joint
 

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Aldridge, J. M., Katt, B., Rizzo, M., Beredjiklian, P., & Urbaniak, J. R. (2020). Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger. J Shoulder Elbow Surg, 29(7), 1394–1400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2020.01.081
Aldridge, Julian M., Brian Katt, Marco Rizzo, Pedro Beredjiklian, and James R. Urbaniak. “Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger.J Shoulder Elbow Surg 29, no. 7 (July 2020): 1394–1400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2020.01.081.
Aldridge JM, Katt B, Rizzo M, Beredjiklian P, Urbaniak JR. Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2020 Jul;29(7):1394–400.
Aldridge, Julian M., et al. “Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger.J Shoulder Elbow Surg, vol. 29, no. 7, July 2020, pp. 1394–400. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jse.2020.01.081.
Aldridge JM, Katt B, Rizzo M, Beredjiklian P, Urbaniak JR. Anterior elbow release for post-traumatic flexion contractures in patients 21 years or younger. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2020 Jul;29(7):1394–1400.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Shoulder Elbow Surg

DOI

EISSN

1532-6500

Publication Date

July 2020

Volume

29

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1394 / 1400

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Orthopedics
  • Male
  • Joint Capsule Release
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Elbow Joint