Management Of Recent Elbow Dislocations: Functional Treatment Versus Immobilization; A Prospective Study About 60 Cases

Objective: To determine our therapeutic posture trough a comparison of functional treatment results versus immobilization in two different periods.

Introduction: For years, the treatment of recent elbow dislocations consisted of reduction and immobilization during 21 days. Given the frequency of stiffness other methods have been tried out.

Method: A prospective study was carried out from January 2010 to December 2014. Sixty patients averaging 28.3 years of age underwent elbow dislocation reduction. They were categorized into three separate groups. Patients in the first group had their elbow immobilized for 21 days whereas Group 2 patients were immobilized for 10 days. Group 3 patients were applied a functional treatment followed by a functional rehabilitation. Patients were evaluated according to the Mayo Clinic Elbow Performance Index and the results analyzed with statistical software (SPSS, version 18).

Results: During the first month, the functional results of the patients were excellent and good in 19%, 94.7% and 90% respectively for Groups 1, 2 and 3. The pain was intense (10 on the visual analogue scale) in group 3 associated with swelling. At day 90, the results of the patients in Groups 2 and 3 were excellent in 100% of the cases versus 90% for Group 1. At 6 months, all the results were the same. We have not noted any instability, or recurrence or periarticular ossification in our patients.

Conclusion: The treatment of stable elbow dislocations remains orthopedic. The risk of instability and pain motivates a short 10-day immobilization period followed by early mobilization.