Lateral Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Suture-Tape Augmentation for Traumatic Elbow Instability

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Elbow instability often requires surgical intervention.
• Lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) repair with suture-tape augmentation is a technique used to address joint instability.
• This study evaluates the clinical outcomes of LUCL repair with suture-tape augmentation for traumatic elbow instability.

Discussion:

• The study included 18 cases of acute and chronic elbow instability treated between 2018 and 2020.
• Mean follow-up was 20 months, with a significant proportion of cases involving high-energy mechanisms or terrible triad injuries.
• Functional outcomes were assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score and visual analog pain scale (VASP).

Key Insights:

• The mean DASH score was 17 and the mean VASP score was 2, indicating acceptable functional recovery and pain management.
• The mean flexion-extension arc was 124°, with only 11% of cases experiencing a limited range of motion (<100°).
• Two cases (11%) required reoperation due to postoperative instability, a rate comparable to other joint stabilization procedures. No cases of capitellar erosion were observed.

Outlook:

• Suture-tape augmentation for LUCL repair demonstrates promising results for complex elbow instability.
• Further research could explore long-term outcomes and compare this technique with other augmentation methods.
• This approach may offer advantages in early motion and stability for patients with elbow joint instability.