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The use of combined lateral and medial releases in the treatment of post-traumatic contracture of the elbow

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Abstract

Elbow stiffness is a common disorder, which restricts daily activities. Between 30° and 130° of elbow movement is usually enough to perform most daily activities. However, a 10° to 15° loss of elbow extension may be a problem when the patient is an athlete. From 1996 to 2004, 20 elbows of 20 patients (who were available for follow-up examination) were treated by lateral and medial release at Kocaeli University, for post-traumatic elbow contracture. Preoperative and the postoperative 12-month follow-up measurements were performed. The mean preoperative arc of motion was 35° and this value improved to 86.2°. The maximum improvement at the arc of motion was 105°. In an effort to understand the pathophysiology of the condition, surgical approaches may be used safely. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional outcome of the elbow joint after using a combination of lateral and medial approaches to treat elbow stiffness.

Résumé

La raideur du coude est une pathologie fréquente qui restreint les activités quotidiennes. Pour celles-ci une mobilité de 30° à 130° est largement suffisante. Cependant un flessum de 10° à 15° peut être un problème quand le patient est un athlète. Revue d’une série de 20 patients (20 coudes) opérés de 1996 à 2004 par libération interne et externe pour une raideur post-traumatique. Les mesures étaient faites avant l’opération et 12 mois après. L’amplitude articulaire pré-opératoire moyenne était de 35° et était augmenté à 86,2°. Le maximum de gain était 105°.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tatvan Military Hospital, Bitlis, Turkey

    Bilgehan Tosun

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, Maltepe University,Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    Hakan Gundes

  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Levent Buluc & Ahmet Y. Sarlak

Authors
  1. Bilgehan Tosun
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  2. Hakan Gundes
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  3. Levent Buluc
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  4. Ahmet Y. Sarlak
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bilgehan Tosun.

Additional information

This study was done at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kocaeli University.

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Tosun, B., Gundes, H., Buluc, L. et al. The use of combined lateral and medial releases in the treatment of post-traumatic contracture of the elbow. International Orthopaedics (SICO 31, 635–638 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-006-0252-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-006-0252-2

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