Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The stiff elbow.

Mitchell T Keschner1, Nader Paksima

  • 1NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York, USA.

Bulletin of the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
|June 2, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Rates of Early Recovery Following Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty: Comparing Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition, Abductor Pollicis Longus Suspensionplasty, and Suture Button Suspensionplasty.

Journal of wrist surgery·2025
Same author

Accuracy of Wrist MRI in Detecting Synovitis and Correlation with Arthroscopy.

Journal of wrist surgery·2025
Same author

Nonoperative treatment of the Boutonniere deformity: Is there a difference in outcomes?

Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists·2025
Same author

Diagnostic Workup of Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow: A Cost-effectiveness Study.

Academic radiology·2025
Same author

How Accurate and Effective Are Non-image-guided Thumb Basal Joint Injections When Performed by Experienced Fellowship-trained Hand Surgeons?

Clinical orthopaedics and related research·2024
Same author

Needle Arthroscopy Versus Conventional Arthroscopy in the Evaluation of Carpal Pathology: A Comparative Study.

Hand (New York, N.Y.)·2024
Same journal

Mosaicplasty for the treatment of the osteochondral lesion in the femoral head.

Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases·2012
Same journal

Hibernoma--a case series with multimodality imaging and pathologic correlation.

Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases·2012
Same journal

Progressive migration of broken Kirschner wire into the proximal tibia following tension-band wiring technique of a patellar fracture--case report.

Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases·2012
Same journal

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection following para-articular steroid injection in the knee--a case report.

Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases·2012
Same journal

Extensor indicis proprius and extensor digitorum communis rupture after volar locked plating of the distal radius--a case report.

Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases·2012
Same journal

Bilateral four-part anterior fracture dislocation of the shoulder--a case report and review of literature.

Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases·2012
See all related articles

Elbow contractures stem from intrinsic or extrinsic causes, with post-traumatic stiffness and heterotopic ossification (HO) being common. Early intervention with prophylaxis, nonoperative measures, or surgical release improves outcomes for elbow stiffness.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Trauma Management
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Elbow contractures arise from intrinsic (e.g., post-traumatic stiffness) or extrinsic (e.g., heterotopic ossification - HO) factors.
  • Heterotopic ossification is a frequent cause of extrinsic elbow contractures, particularly after significant trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the etiologies, risk factors, and management strategies for elbow contractures.
  • To outline current treatment paradigms, including prophylaxis, nonoperative, and surgical interventions for elbow stiffness.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of etiologies and treatment modalities for elbow contractures.
  • Analysis of nonoperative and surgical management options, including physical therapy, splinting, and surgical release techniques.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Prophylaxis (indomethacin or radiation) is recommended for patients at risk of HO post-trauma.
  • Nonoperative measures (physical therapy, splinting) are most effective within 6 months of contracture onset.
  • Both arthroscopic and open surgical releases can yield satisfactory results, with approach selection based on specific patient factors.

Conclusions:

  • Management of elbow contractures requires addressing underlying causes and employing timely interventions.
  • Surgical approach for elbow contracture release should be individualized based on range of motion limitations, ulnar nerve status, and osteophyte location.