Surgical release of elbow-capsular contracture in pediatric patients

Nine pediatric patients with elbow-capsular contractures were treated by surgical release. Six patients had sustained prior trauma and three patients had medical conditions leading to capsular contracture. A lateral approach was used to release the anterior and posterior capsules, as well as to remove sites of bony impingement. All patients were treated with postoperative range of motion and splinting, with six patients receiving a continuous brachial plexus block to facilitate therapy. Average loss of extension improved from 47 to 15 degrees, mean angle of flexion from 102 to 124 degrees, and total arc of motion increased from 55 to 108 degrees at an average of 17 months after surgery. Complications included wound infection and catheter-site erythema.