Objective: Restoration of ulnar elbow stability in cases of posttraumatic and chronic ulnar ligament instability.
Indications: Symptomatic therapy-resistant ulnar ligament instability of the elbow.
Contraindications: Arthrofibrosis and high-grade elbow arthrosis.
Surgical technique: Anatomical reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) with autologous tendon graft (tendons of the palmaris longus muscle and gracilis muscle) in implant-free docking technique.
Postoperative management: A cast for 1 week, then 5 weeks orthesis with limitation of complete extension and flexion; full weight bearing after 3 months.
Results: After 2 years 90% of the patients are able to return at an equal level of activity. The overall complication rate is 10.4%. The most common complication is ulnar nerve neurapraxia in 7.8% of the patients.
Keywords: Autologous transplants; Elbow joint; Joint instability; Medial ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction; Ulnar collateral ligament surgery.