Surgical treatment of posttraumatic elbow contracture in adolescents

Thirteen adolescent patients with posttraumatic elbow contractures were treated with open surgical release at an average of 16.2 years of age. When possible, an extensile medial approach to the elbow was used. All patients were treated with 6 weeks of postoperative continuous passive motion in addition to physical therapy and splinting. Eleven patients with >6 months of follow-up were evaluated at an average of 29 months after surgery. Average loss of extension improved from 57 degrees to 15 degrees, and average flexion improved from 109 degrees to 123 degrees. Average total arc of motion improved from 53 degrees to 107 degrees. Complications included one case of wound drainage requiring irrigation and debridement and one case of transient ulnar neuropraxia. One of the 13 patients was unable to tolerate postoperative therapy and showed loss of motion.