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Acute shoulder and elbow dislocations in the athlete
Giridhar Burra1, James R Andrews
1Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, 1313 Thirteenth Street, South Birmingham, AL 35244, USA. g_burra@yahoo.com
The Orthopedic Clinics of North America
|December 18, 2002
Summary
Elbow dislocations, less common than shoulder injuries, are typically treated conservatively with early mobilization. Most patients experience functional recovery within a year, with surgery reserved for complex cases.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Traumatology
Background:
- Elbow dislocations are less frequent than shoulder dislocations.
- Conservative management is the standard initial approach.
- Early mobilization is a key component of non-operative treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the management and outcomes of elbow dislocations.
- To define the role of conservative versus operative treatment.
- To discuss expected functional recovery timelines.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on elbow dislocation treatment.
- Analysis of conservative management strategies.
- Evaluation of indications for surgical intervention.
Main Results:
- Conservative treatment with early mobilization leads to good outcomes.
- Recurrence of elbow dislocations is uncommon.
- Functional improvement can be anticipated for up to one year post-injury.
Conclusions:
- Conservative treatment is effective for most elbow dislocations.
- Operative intervention is typically reserved for specific scenarios, such as complex instability or in elite athletes like baseball pitchers.
- Early mobilization is crucial for optimal recovery of elbow function and range of motion.