[The infected elbow joint fracture]

Post-traumatic infection of the elbow joint is a serious complication, because the bone structure and the thin soft tissue cover make all actions directed at reconstruction and at calming the infection difficult. A good overall prognosis for later function depends decisively on early diagnosis, stability of the fragments and the earliest possible initiation of functional therapy. If this cannot be achieved, the infection must first be treated by transfixation techniques and the joint function restored subsequently. In late cases with chronic inflammation and destruction, nothing but resection arthroplasty or arthrodesis is still possible.