Treatment of moderate and severe elbow stiffness after trauma based on the balanced matching concept
10.3760/cma.j.cn115530-20250624-00260
- VernacularTitle:基于平衡匹配理念手术治疗创伤后中重度肘关节僵硬的疗效分析
- Author:
Jiakai GAO
1
;
Long BI
1
;
Taoran WANG
1
;
Xiang HE
1
;
Jingdi CHEN
1
;
Hui ZHANG
1
;
Yu WANG
1
Author Information
1. 空军军医大学第一附属医院骨科，西安 710032
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Elbow joint;
Muscle rigidity;
Wounds and injury;
Elbow stiffnes;
Balanced matching concept
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
2025;27(8):715-720
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic role of balanced matching concept in the surgical release of moderate and severe elbow stiffness after trauma.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 20 patients who had been treated by surgical release from June 2022 to January 2024 for elbow stiffness after moderate and severe trauma at Department of Orthopedic Trauma, The First Hospital Affiliated to Air Force Medical University of PLA using the balanced matching concept (combination of elbow soft tissue balance and bone matching). There were 15 males and 5 females, with an age of (33.0±8.9) years. Six left sides and 14 right sides were affected. The elbow stiffness was severe in 13 cases and moderate in 7 cases. Six patients had mainly bony stiffness, 4 patients mainly soft stiffness, and 10 patients mixed stiffness. The elbow flexion and extension, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score were recorded and compared before release and at the last follow-up. The recurrence of ectopic ossification, infection, iatrogenic fracture and other complications of the elbow joint of the affected limb were recorded.Results:All the 20 patients were followed up for (16.6±3.5) months. At the last follow-up, the elbow flexion and extension (121.8°±8.9° and 14.8°±8.2°) were significantly greater than those before operation (73.5°±25.7° and 47.3°±19.2°), and the MEPS and DASH scores [ (90.0±5.6) points, (5.6±3.0) points] were significantly better than those before operation [(53.0±12.8) points, (62.1±14.0) points] ( P<0.05). Iatrogenic fracture of the ulna occurred in 1 patient, and pinky numbness occurred in 1 patient after surgery. None of the patients had recurrence of ectopic ossification or wound infection. Conclusion:In the surgical release of moderate and severe elbow stiffness after trauma, the concept of balanced matching plays a positive role by facilitating the functional restoration of the elbow and reducing the incidence of complications.
