Background: The incidence of relevant posttraumatic functional deficits in the sense of elbow stiffness with less than 30 degrees in extension or flexion less than 120 degrees , is unknown. A differentiation can be made between intraarticular, extraarticular and combined causes. An open procedure is indicated in elbow stiffness after correct analysis of the situation and failure of conservative treatment.
Materials and methods: An open procedure was carried out on 35 patients between March 1995 and November 2001, 10 (3-24) months after the trauma. The mean age of the 24 men and 11 women was 45 (range 17-75) years. Of the patients 15 had distal humerus fractures, 10 radius head or neck fractures and 12 proximal ulnar fractures.
Results: Of the patients 11 (31%) had an excellent result in the Cauchoix and Deburge score, 15 (42%) a good, 4 (11%) a fair, 4 (11%) a bad and 1 (3%) a very bad result after a mean follow-up of 21.5 (range 9-60) months. Of the patients 11 (31%) had an excellent result in the Mayo elbow performance score, 14 (40%) a good, 5 (14%) a fair and 5 (14%) a poor result.
Conclusion: Open arthrolysis for severe posttraumatic elbow stiffness carried out 10 months (range 3-24 months) after the accident led to good results in most cases with a clear improvement in functional mobility.