[The late results after mobilizing bone resections in posttraumatic rigidity of the elbow]

Two categories of posttraumatic rigidities are distinguished: partial and total. The severity of partial rigidities depends on the residual flexion-extension amplitude arch and they are divided accordingly into functional rigidities, with a residual amplitude arch of 60-100 degrees, and non-functional ones, with residual flexion amplitude arches of 0-80 degrees or over 100 degrees. The severity of total rigidities depends mainly on the preservation or loss of the pronation-supination movement. To the department where the authors are working were admitted during 16 years (1970-1986), 54 cases of posttraumatic rigidities of the elbow, on which 63 operations were performed. The surgical indications were established according to the anatomopathological type of lesions, to the time elapsed from the accident, to the age and occupation of the patient and to the residual amplitude arches. The late results were checked up after 1-10 years, on the average after 3-4 years, by comparison of pre- and postoperative Rocher indices. The flexion-extension movements benefitted postoperatively by 70% in total rigidities and by 45% in the partial ones and the pronation-supination movements, by 40%. The results regarding the change of the biomechanical functionality conditions following the mobilizing bone resections are shown in comparison with those obtained by arthrosis and total elbow prostheses.