Analysis of clinical efficacy of open arthrolysis for post-traumatic elbow stiffness
10.3760/cma.j.cn121113-20250207-00112
- VernacularTitle:开放性松解术治疗创伤性肘关节僵硬
- Author:
Zhanchuan YU
1
;
Jiajun XU
;
Jinlei DONG
;
Fanxiao LIU
;
Limin WANG
;
Lianxin LI
Author Information
1. 山东大学齐鲁医学院，济南 250063
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Elbow joint;
Wounds and injuries;
Joint capsule release;
Ossification, heterotopic
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2025;45(13):864-871
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of open arthrolysis in the treatment of posttraumatic elbow stiffness.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 407 patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness treated by open arthrolysis surgery in Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2010 to January 2024. The cohort included 303 males and 104 females, with a mean age of 38.98±10.90 years (range, 18-72 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.32±3.29 kg/m 2 (range, 17.91-33.41 kg/m 2). There were 230 patients with right-sided elbow stiffness, 159 patients with left-sided elbow stiffness, and 18 patients with bilateral elbow stiffness. Initial injuries included 21 patients of isolated elbow dislocation; 25 patients of soft tissue injury; and 361 patients of initial intra-articular elbow fractures, among which there were 200 patients of multiple fractures, 87 patients of single distal humerus fracture, 43 patients of single proximal ulna fracture, and 31 patients of single radial head fracture. Initial injuries were treated non-surgically in 69 cases and surgically in 338 cases, among which 177 cases were retained with internal fixation. There were 334 preoperative patients complicated with heterotopic ossification and 73 patients without heterotopic ossification, with 99 patients undergoing early release (stiffness duration <6 months) and 308 patients undergoing late release (stiffness duration ≥6 months). Record the range of motion (ROM) of the elbow joint, forearm rotational range (FRR), visual analogue scale (VAS), Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), modified Broberg-Morrey score (MBS), Oxford elbow score (OES), and disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score before and after surgery, and conduct comparative analysis. Results:All patients were followed up for an average of 41.86±10.27 months (range, 13-119 months). At 12 months postoperatively, elbow ROM improved from preoperative 33.7°±26.5° to 101.2°±24.0°, elbow FRR improved from preoperative 101.4°±53.5° to 138.9°±38.7°, the MEPS increased from 60.1±14.7 to 91.5±10.1, the BMS increased from 57.5±12.8 to 83.7±11.0, the OES decreased from 31.6±7.3 to 16.0± 4.6, the DASH score decreased from 38.8±13.9 to 10.1±9.5, and the VAS decreased from 3.0±2.3 to 0.9±1.1, with all changes showing statistical significance ( P<0.05). In patients with preoperative heterotopic ossification, postoperative mean flexion range was 120.1°±15.5° and elbow ROM was 102.6°±23.4°. In patients without preoperative heterotopic ossification, postoperative mean flexion range was 113.9°±15.6° and elbow ROM was 93.4°±26.4°. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in postoperative flexion range and flexion-extension ROM. There were no statistically significant differences in the postoperative above-mentioned indicators between early and late release patients ( P>0.05). The supination range and elbow FRR in patients with multiple fractures were lower than those in patients with distal humerus fractures and proximal ulna fractures; the DASH score in patients with multiple fractures was higher than that in patients with proximal ulna fractures and radial head fractures; the OES score in patients with multiple fractures was higher than that in patients with proximal ulna fractures, and all differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Among 407 patients, complications included new-onset postoperative ulnar neuropathy in 61 cases, new heterotopic ossification in 11 cases, recurrent heterotopic ossification in 96 cases, elbow instability in 6 cases, and superficial surgical site infection in 2 cases. Conclusions:Open arthrolysis is an effective treatment option for post-traumatic elbow stiffness. Patients with preoperative heterotopic ossification have a greater postoperative flexion range and elbow flexion-extension range of motion. The surgical timing exerts no significant influence on the ultimate functional outcome of treatment in patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness. Patients with different initial fracture sites exhibited significant differences in postoperative functional outcomes, including supination, DASH scores, and OES.
