Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Novel Triple-Loop Technique for Suturing TFCC Injuries without Transosseous Tunnel
Published on: May 23, 2025
ARTHROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC ELBOW STIFFNESS
Jose Carlos Garcia Júnior1, Jose Luis Amim Zabeu2, Ivaldo Angelo Cintra Junior3
1Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon in the Advanced Study Center for Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Unlabelled:
To evaluate patients undergoing arthroscopic release of a stiff elbow, with discussion of the technique, possible difficulties and risks.
Methods:
Twenty-four elbow arthroscopy procedures were performed. All the patients were evaluated using goniometry before the operation and six months afterwards and were rated using the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS).
Results:
Fifteen men and nine women underwent surgery (14 right elbows and ten left elbows). Their mean age was 34.58 years and length of follow-up, 38.41 months. Their mean gain of range of motion was 43.3° and of MEPS, 85.4.
Conclusion:
Arthroscopic release might enable better intra-articular viewing and enhance the options for changing strategy during surgery, reducing surgical trauma and enabling early rehabilitation. This technique can reach similar or better results than open surgery. The disadvantages of arthroscopy are the long learning curve and higher cost of the procedure. Neurovascular complications are reported with both techniques. To avoid such problems, the protocol for portal construction must be rigorously followed. Arthroscopic release was shown to be a safe and effective option for achieving range-of-motion gains in cases of post-traumatic stiff elbow.
