Abstract
Postoperative results and problematical points of arthroplasty in severe post-traumatic elbow joint contracture were studied. Over a 5-year period, arthroplasty for post-traumatic elbow joint contracture was carried out on 16 elbow of 15 patients (14 males and 1 female) .
Age at the time of arthroplasty ranged from 12 to 46 years (average 25.7 years) . The period from time of injury to arthroplasty ranged from 6 months to 6 years (average 18 months) . Causes were 7 dislocation fractures of the elbow joint, 4 transcondylar fractures, 3 olecranon fractures, 1 radial head fracture, and 1 osteochondral fracture. The period of postoperative observation was 27 months, on average. The causes of joint contracture were considered, and there was a high incidence of contracture in the posteromedial joint capsule, ulnar collaterall ligament, and posterior osteophyte.
No apparent differences were observed in causes or age at operation, but the duration of preoperative symptoms tended to affect prognosis. Since many cases could not maintain the range of joint motion obtained during surgery, it seems that acquisition of sufficient intraoperative range of motion is necessary. Although short-term results were relatively favorable, it was considered that long-term postoperative observation is also necessary, because in some cases there was postoperative progression of joint deformities, while in others there was decreased muscle strength after surgery.
