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Arthrolysis for post-traumatic stiffness of the elbow

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Summary

Twelve of 14 patients who underwent arthrolysis of the elbow for post-traumatic stiffness were re-examined after a mean of 62 months. Pain and subjective stiffness were improved. The mean function of the elbow improved from 73° to 112°. Those operated on within a year of their injury improved twice as much as those who had been operated on after a longer period. Arthrolysis may be very rewarding when conservative treatment fails, especially when it is carried out within a year of the injury.

Résumé

Douze des 14 patients, opérés par arthrolyse du coude pour raideur post-traumatique, ont été réexaminés avec un recul moyen de 62 mois. L'intensité de la douleur avait diminué de 1,2 à 0,5 et la raideur de 2,3 à 1,3 (sur une échelle de 0–3). Neuf patients étaient satisfaits du résultat opératoire. La mobilité du coude était passée de 73° à 112°, soit une augmentation de 57%. Le taux d'amélioration observé chez les patients, opérés par arthrolyse un an après le traumatisme, était deux fois plus élevé que celui constaté chez les patients opérés après un plus long délai. On peut conclure que l'arthrolyse du coude est une technique valable, qui peut être utilisée lorsque les procédés conventonnels ont échoué, particuliérement si l'intervalle entre le traumatisme et l'intervention est inférieur à un an.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Maasland Hospital Sittard, PO Box 5500, NL-6130 MB, Sittard, Netherlands

    A. L. Boerboom & A. D. Verburg

  2. Academic Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands

    H. E. de Meyier & J. A. N. Verhaar

Authors
  1. A. L. Boerboom
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  2. H. E. de Meyier
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  3. A. D. Verburg
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  4. J. A. N. Verhaar
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Reprint requests to: A. D. Verborg

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Boerboom, A.L., de Meyier, H.E., Verburg, A.D. et al. Arthrolysis for post-traumatic stiffness of the elbow. International Orthopaedics 17, 346–349 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180451

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