Arthroscopic treatment of arthrofibrosis of the elbow joint

Twenty-five patients with arthrofibrosis of the elbow were treated with arthroscopic debridement; 15 had post-traumatic arthrofibrosis and 10 had contractures caused by degenerative arthritis. At an average follow-up of 18 months, all patients had increased motion and decreased pain. One patient required reoperation because of continued stiffness and pain; she had moderate pain before surgery, mild pain after initial debridement, and occasional mild pain after the second operation. Patients with post-traumatic arthritis had more severe flexion contractures preoperatively than did those with degenerative arthritis, but they also had more improvement postoperatively. There were no perioperative or postoperative complications. Arthroscopic release and debridement of arthrofibrotic elbow joints appear to obtain improvement equal to that obtained by open techniques, with less morbidity and earlier rehabilitation.