[Conservative treatment of elbow dislocations]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Traumatology
• Sports medicine

Background:

• Ligamentous injuries associated with elbow joint dislocations often prompt non-surgical management.
• Current treatment principles involve closed reduction techniques, including longitudinal traction and flexion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of non-surgical treatment for elbow dislocations with ligamentous injuries.
• To determine optimal immobilization periods based on redislocation tendency.
• To assess long-term radiological and functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of non-surgical treatment protocols for elbow dislocations.
• Analysis of immobilization periods (1 week vs. 2-3 weeks) based on redislocation risk.
• Radiological assessment for degenerative changes post-treatment.
• Evaluation of subjective patient complaints and functional impairments.

Main Results:

• Non-surgical treatment is the primary approach for these injuries.
• Immobilization duration should be individualized: 1 week for stable elbows, 2-3 weeks for those prone to redislocation.
• Radiological follow-up reveals a high incidence of degenerative changes (sclerosis, osteophytosis, calcification).
• Despite degenerative changes, patients report minimal subjective complaints and functional limitations.

Conclusions:

• Non-surgical management of elbow dislocations with ligamentous injuries yields favorable functional outcomes.
• The presence of degenerative changes on radiographs does not necessarily correlate with significant long-term disability.
• Current evidence does not support primary surgical intervention for these injuries.