Surgical treatment for posttraumatic elbow stiffness combined with pain

ZHOU Jia-shun; SONG Kai-fang; TAO Lei; YANG Po

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-4237.2017.06.013

Abstract：Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy of patients treated with surgical treatment for posttraumatic elbow stiffness combined with pain.Methods From Jan.2011 to Dec.2014,30 cases of posttraumatic constracture of the elbow combined with pain were performed by operation in our hospital.There were 20 males and 10 females,with an average age of 39.0 years(range,18-65years).Twenty-three cases of these patients with mild or moderate pain got a simple elbow release operation.There were 4 cases of severe pain complicated with elbow dislocation,and reduction was performed after release operation.Elbow release and arthroplasty were performed in 3 cases that had severe osteoarthritis and severe pain.A total of 24 patients were installed external fixator after operation for early functional exercise.Results All patients were followed up for an average time of 14 months (from 12 to 18 months).All patients were significantly improved in the range of elbow and pain symptoms.Two patients with severe stiffness improved to moderate stiffness,17 patients with moderate or severe stiffness improved to mild stiffness,and 11 cases had stiffness disappeared.The improvement rate was 100%.Six cases of moderate or severe pain relieved to mild pain,and the other 24 patients had pain disappeared.The pain relief rate was 100%.Mayo elbow performance score was employed before and after surgery.The results were good in 6 cases,fair in 12 cases and poor in 12 cases before surgery.After surgery,results were excellent in 20 cases,good in 6 cases and fair in 4 cases,and the excellent and good rate was 87%.The difference between preoperation and postoperation was statistically significant(P<0.05).All incisions healed without complications like infection or elbow instability.Conclusion Surgical treatment can effectively improve the elbow flexion and extension function,meanwhile,associated pain caused by old dislocation or arthritis of elbow can also get good effect.