[Elbow arthroscopy]

This symposium of the French Arthroscopic Society is the 2005 state of the art of elbow arthrosocpy in France. A survey reports 499 cases during 2 years with a rate of complication higher than the arthroscopies of other joints (6% of minor and 1% of major complications). The main indication is the removal of loose bodies. They can come from arthritis, chondromatosis, osteochondritis or fracture. The most accurate radiologic examination is an arthroCTscan. The main pronostic factor is the cartilage status. Arthrolysis is the second indication. We performed a retrospective and a prospective studies to compare open and arthroscopic surgery. Results are almost similar with a significant higher improvement in flexion (7 degrees ) in the open group. Open surgery seems more efficient but with a franck loss of motion in the postoperative course. However, in this group elbows were preoperatively stiffer in relation with a trauma event instead of sport related microtrauma in the arthroscopically treated group. Removal of necrotic fragment combined with abrasion in osteochondritis of the capitulum yields to good results with 82% of patients resuming to sports. Long term prognosis is unknown as the joint line is narrowed at a 3 years follow up. Arthroscopy is usefull in synovial diseases as resection of synovial folds or removal of tumors like villonodular synovitis. In the treatment of epicondylitis, the results of our retrospective study are not so good as those reported in the literature. But in our comparative study the results are similar to the open surgery group. The numerous procedures and the different follow up in these two groups did not allow to give statistical analysis. Elbow arthroscopy is a hyper specialty with more and more advanced procedures.