[Case-control study on combined therapy for preventing postsurgery stiffness after elbow fracture]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Context:

• Elbow fractures are common injuries that can lead to significant functional impairment.
• Post-surgical stiffness is a major complication following operative treatment of elbow fractures.
• Current treatment paradigms aim to restore joint function and minimize complications.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and necessity of a combined therapy approach for preventing post-surgical stiffness after elbow fractures.
• To compare the outcomes of combined therapy with traditional methods and historical controls.

Summary:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 60 patients with elbow fractures demonstrated that combined therapy resulted in significantly higher Mayo Elbow Performance Scores (91.00 ± 7.81) compared to past procedures (76.83 ± 10.71) and historical controls (73.17 ± 11.99).
• The combined therapy group also showed a superior range of motion (102.40 ± 9.16 degrees) versus the past procedure group (83.57 ± 6.21 degrees).
• No instances of internal fixation loosening, fracture displacement, or heterotopic ossification were observed in the combined therapy group.

Impact:

• Combined therapy represents an effective, safe, and necessary intervention for preventing post-surgical stiffness after elbow fractures.
• This approach leads to improved functional recovery and joint mobility.
• The findings support the integration of combined therapy into standard clinical practice for elbow fracture management.