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Post-Traumatic Contracture of the Elbow. Operative Release Using a Lateral Collateral Ligament Sparing Approach.

Cohen, Hastings·J Bone Joint Surg Br·1998·214 citations·Shoulder & Elbow
Free Full Text·DOI·PubMed
SummaryAbstract on PubMed →

This retrospective series describes a modified lateral (extended Kocher) approach for releasing post-traumatic elbow contracture. The technique spares the lateral collateral ligament and extensor origin, unlike the authors' prior approach that detached them. The question: can contracture be corrected safely and effectively without violating the lateral stabilizers?

Study Snapshot

Design
Retrospective cohort
Setting: Single hand/elbow referral center
Funding: None
Objective
Whether post-traumatic elbow contracture can be corrected safely and effectively by a lateral ligament-sparing approach.
Outcome(s)
Change in elbow range of motion and function at follow-up
Subjects
22 patients
  • 23Operated
  • 1Lost to follow-up
Inclusion
  • Flexion contracture ≥30° or flexion <100°
  • Failed supervised dynamic splinting
  • Congruous joint, adequate joint space
Exclusion
  • Spasticity, burn contracture, head or spinal cord injury
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Significant heterotopic ossification
Follow-up
Mean 29 months (abstract cites 26)
Statistics
Student's t-testWilcoxon rank-sum

Key Findings

  • The total humeroulnar arc improved from a mean of 74° to 129° (a 55° gain, p < 0.001), with extension going from a 39° contracture to 8° and flexion from 113° to 137°. This restores a functional arc without touching the lateral ligaments.
  • Forearm rotation improved from 135° to 159° (supination 68° to 83°, pronation 67° to 75°, p < 0.01), gains attributed to concomitant radial head excision, metal removal, and radiocapitellar debridement.
  • No patient developed posterolateral instability. This directly contrasts with the authors' earlier ligament-detaching technique, which caused posterolateral instability in 2 patients requiring revision surgery to restore stability.
  • Function improved significantly: the Mayo Elbow Performance Index rose from 50 to 89 and task analysis from 6.5 to 11.1 out of 12 (both p < 0.001), with mean patient satisfaction of 8.8 out of 10.
  • Pain dropped across every measure:
    –Peak pain 7.3 to 1.3
    –General pain 6.4 to 0.8
    –Night pain 6.1 to 0.7 (all p < 0.001)
    –Attributed to removal of osteophytes
    –Loose bodies
    –Impinging tissue.
  • Transient ulnar neuritis occurred in 3 of 22 patients and resolved by 3 months, likely from increased ulnar nerve tension as flexion improved.
  • Because the collateral ligaments were preserved, there were no rehabilitation restrictions, allowing immediate continuous passive motion and weighted stretches.
Board PearlA ligament-sparing lateral elbow release restores a 74°-to-129° arc without posterolateral instability, allowing unrestricted early rehabilitation.

Clinical Relevance

The decision rule here is anatomic: work proximal to the conjoined lateral collateral and annular ligament complex, and you can debride the entire anterior and posterior elbow through one lateral incision without creating instability.

The authors' own prior technique detached the ligament and extensor origin, then reattached them. Two patients avulsed that repair and developed posterolateral rotatory instability needing revision. This paper is the correction of that pitfall.

Preserving the ligament pays off twice. First, no instability. Second, no protective bracing, so rehabilitation is unrestricted from day one, which matters because motion can improve for three to four months.

Watch the ulnar nerve. As flexion improves, ulnar tension rises and 3 of 22 developed transient neuritis. Release and transpose the nerve if the patient has symptoms or a positive Tinel or flexion test. Select patients carefully: the joint must be congruous with an adequate humeroulnar space.

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|

Post-Traumatic Contracture of the Elbow. Operative Release Using a Lateral Collateral Ligament Sparing Approach.

Cohen, Hastings·J Bone Joint Surg Br·1998·214 citations·Shoulder & Elbow
Free Full Text·DOI·PubMed
SummaryAbstract on PubMed →

This retrospective series describes a modified lateral (extended Kocher) approach for releasing post-traumatic elbow contracture. The technique spares the lateral collateral ligament and extensor origin, unlike the authors' prior approach that detached them. The question: can contracture be corrected safely and effectively without violating the lateral stabilizers?

Study Snapshot

Design
Retrospective cohort
Setting: Single hand/elbow referral center
Funding: None
Objective
Whether post-traumatic elbow contracture can be corrected safely and effectively by a lateral ligament-sparing approach.
Outcome(s)
Change in elbow range of motion and function at follow-up
Subjects
22 patients
  • 23Operated
  • 1Lost to follow-up
Inclusion
  • Flexion contracture ≥30° or flexion <100°
  • Failed supervised dynamic splinting
  • Congruous joint, adequate joint space
Exclusion
  • Spasticity, burn contracture, head or spinal cord injury
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Significant heterotopic ossification
Follow-up
Mean 29 months (abstract cites 26)
Statistics
Student's t-testWilcoxon rank-sum

Key Findings

  • The total humeroulnar arc improved from a mean of 74° to 129° (a 55° gain, p < 0.001), with extension going from a 39° contracture to 8° and flexion from 113° to 137°. This restores a functional arc without touching the lateral ligaments.
  • Forearm rotation improved from 135° to 159° (supination 68° to 83°, pronation 67° to 75°, p < 0.01), gains attributed to concomitant radial head excision, metal removal, and radiocapitellar debridement.
  • No patient developed posterolateral instability. This directly contrasts with the authors' earlier ligament-detaching technique, which caused posterolateral instability in 2 patients requiring revision surgery to restore stability.
  • Function improved significantly: the Mayo Elbow Performance Index rose from 50 to 89 and task analysis from 6.5 to 11.1 out of 12 (both p < 0.001), with mean patient satisfaction of 8.8 out of 10.
  • Pain dropped across every measure:
    –Peak pain 7.3 to 1.3
    –General pain 6.4 to 0.8
    –Night pain 6.1 to 0.7 (all p < 0.001)
    –Attributed to removal of osteophytes
    –Loose bodies
    –Impinging tissue.
  • Transient ulnar neuritis occurred in 3 of 22 patients and resolved by 3 months, likely from increased ulnar nerve tension as flexion improved.
  • Because the collateral ligaments were preserved, there were no rehabilitation restrictions, allowing immediate continuous passive motion and weighted stretches.
Board PearlA ligament-sparing lateral elbow release restores a 74°-to-129° arc without posterolateral instability, allowing unrestricted early rehabilitation.

Clinical Relevance

The decision rule here is anatomic: work proximal to the conjoined lateral collateral and annular ligament complex, and you can debride the entire anterior and posterior elbow through one lateral incision without creating instability.

The authors' own prior technique detached the ligament and extensor origin, then reattached them. Two patients avulsed that repair and developed posterolateral rotatory instability needing revision. This paper is the correction of that pitfall.

Preserving the ligament pays off twice. First, no instability. Second, no protective bracing, so rehabilitation is unrestricted from day one, which matters because motion can improve for three to four months.

Watch the ulnar nerve. As flexion improves, ulnar tension rises and 3 of 22 developed transient neuritis. Release and transpose the nerve if the patient has symptoms or a positive Tinel or flexion test. Select patients carefully: the joint must be congruous with an adequate humeroulnar space.

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