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Return to Sport Following Elbow Dislocation: A Systematic Review
Andrew S Albright1, Andrew K Chow2, Nicholas R Kiristis3
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Athletes with elbow dislocations achieve high return to sport (RTS) rates, often within 10 weeks. Nonoperative treatment typically leads to a faster recovery than surgery, with excellent functional outcomes reported for both methods.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Elbow dislocation is a common injury in athletes, particularly in high-impact sports.
- Injuries often result from falls onto an outstretched hand.
- Both surgical and nonoperative treatments show success in restoring function and enabling return to sport (RTS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the return to sport rate, time to return, and functional outcomes in athletes after elbow dislocation.
- To test the hypothesis that most athletes can return to sport regardless of treatment.
- To compare recovery timelines between nonoperative and surgical interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science.
- Inclusion criteria focused on elbow dislocation management in athletes.
- Data extracted included injury mechanism, treatment, complications, follow-up, and RTS outcomes.
Main Results:
- Nine studies involving 970 athletes were analyzed.
- 99.3% of athletes returned to sport within a mean of 11.4 weeks.
- Nonoperative treatment (mean 8.95 weeks) was associated with a quicker return than surgical treatment (mean 16.3 weeks).
- Complications were reported in 11.2% of cases.
Conclusions:
- The hypothesis was supported: athletes demonstrate excellent functional outcomes and high RTS rates after elbow dislocation.
- Most athletes return to sport within approximately 10 weeks.
- Nonoperative management generally offers a shorter recovery period compared to surgical intervention.
