Results of conservative treatment in tuberculosis of the elbow

The authors have used conservative treatment in 29 cases of tuberculosis of the elbow with 12 months of specific chemotherapy regim and 1--2 months of plaster immobilisation followed by rehabilitation. Seven elbows were ankylosed at the end of the period of treatment, 20 elbows had a useful range of joint movement, and 14 had more than 70 degrees of free movement. The results were not so satisfactory regarding pronation and supination. The authors believe that conservative management gives better results than classical arthrodesis or excision of the elbow joint.