European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: The elbow is the second most commonly dislocated major joint in adults. Simple
dislocations are those where there had been no concomitant fracture apart from small
periarticular avulsions 1 mm or 2 mm in diameter. The present study compared acute
ligamentous repair with functional treatment in patients with simple elbow dislocation.
Materials & Methods:80 patients with elbow dislocation were divided into 2 groups of 40 each.
Group I patients were treated with closed reduction of elbow and group II patients were
treated with closed elbow reduction and subsequent reconstruction of torn collateral
ligaments. Outcome of the treatment was compared.
Results: Side of dislocation was left side in 17 in group I and 14 in group II and on right side
seen in 23 in group I and 26 in group II. Type of dislocation was posterior seen in 15 in group
I and 16 in group II, postero- lateral seen 12 in group I and 11 in group II, postero- medial
seen 7 in group I and 8 in group II and lateral seen 6 each in group I and 5 in group II.
Clinical outcome was excellent seen in 30 in group I and 22 in group II, good in 6 in group I
and 14 in group II, fair seen in 4 in group I and 3 in group II and poor seen 1 in group II.
The difference was significant (P< 0.05).
Conclusion:Closed reduction of elbow repair found to be better than closed elbow reduction
and subsequent reconstruction of torn collateral ligaments.