Nonsurgically treated terrible triad injuries of the elbow: report of four cases

Abstract

This case series describes 4 patients with terrible triad injury of the elbow (dislocation with fractures of the radial head and coronoid) who were treated nonsurgically. Following nonsurgical treatment in this select group of patients, the elbow was well aligned, and the patients regained good elbow function. Three of these 4 patients had good results. One patient had surgery for residual stiffness, ulnar neuropathy, and a radial head deformity. We conclude that, in selected terrible triad cases, when the elbow is well aligned and the radial head and coronoid fractures are relatively small and minimally displaced after closed reduction and there is no mechanical block to motion, patients might regain good elbow function without surgery.