Posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Elbow Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) of the elbow is a significant clinical problem.
• It frequently results from complex injuries to the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) complex.
• Chronic PLRI leads to mechanical symptoms, pain, and functional limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the etiology and management of elbow posterolateral rotatory instability.
• To discuss surgical techniques for lateral ligamentous complex repair and reconstruction.
• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of these surgical interventions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of surgical techniques for LUCL repair/reconstruction.
• Analysis of clinical outcomes reported in peer-reviewed studies.
• Synthesis of current evidence on elbow instability management.

Main Results:

• Surgical intervention is often necessary for stabilizing the radiocapitellar joint in cases of PLRI.
• Various surgical techniques exist for the repair or reconstruction of the lateral ligamentous complex.
• Studies report generally favorable clinical outcomes following these procedures.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of PLRI typically involves surgical stabilization of the lateral elbow structures.
• Successful outcomes depend on accurate diagnosis and appropriate surgical technique selection.
• Further research may refine existing techniques and explore novel treatment strategies.