Lateral collateral ligament reconstruction in atraumatic posterolateral rotatory instability.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Elbow Instability

Background:

• Chronic elbow pain can stem from various causes, including instability.
• Posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) is a specific type of elbow instability resulting from lateral collateral ligament (LCL) insufficiency.
• While LCL reconstruction is standard for traumatic PLRI, outcomes in atraumatic cases are less documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of LCL reconstruction in patients with chronic lateral elbow pain due to atraumatic PLRI.
• To assess functional outcomes and complications following LCL reconstruction for atraumatic PLRI.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of six patients with atraumatic PLRI and chronic lateral elbow pain underwent LCL reconstruction using a tendon graft.
• Data collected included demographics, steroid injections, and postoperative assessments using the Mayo Elbow Performance Index and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score.
• Follow-up averaged 24 months, with clinical examination and range of motion measurements.

Main Results:

• LCL reconstruction led to significant pain reduction and improved functional scores (Mayo Elbow Performance Index: 97.5, DASH: 9).
• All patients demonstrated negative postoperative instability tests.
• Excellent range of motion was restored (136° flexion, 1° extension) with no reported complications.

Conclusions:

• Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) reconstruction is a reliable and effective treatment for atraumatic posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI).
• The study supports LCL reconstruction as a reference treatment for this specific patient group.
• Positive outcomes suggest surgical intervention can successfully manage chronic elbow pain associated with atraumatic PLRI.