Management of acute complex instability of the elbow with hinged external fixation

We report the experience of a single surgeon who treated 20 patients, over a 9-year period, with acute complex instability of the elbow with hinged external fixation. Patients who presented greater than 6 months after the original injury were excluded. The mechanism of injury was typically a fall or a motor vehicle accident. Fixators were placed at a mean of 26 days (range, 0-66 days) after injury and initial management. Reconstruction of the collateral ligaments was not performed, but soft tissues were repaired en bloc to the humerus. All patients were available for follow-up at a mean of 2.1 years. Flexion-extension arcs averaged 93°, whereas pronation-supination arcs averaged 96°. Posttraumatic arthrosis was commonly seen at follow-up, with moderate or severe changes developing in 55% of patients. Arthrosis did not correlate with functional outcomes, however. Outcomes were measured by use of the Mayo Elbow Performance Index and the Hospital for Special Surgery Total Elbow Scoring System, with mean scores of 75 and 71 points, respectively. Although the severity of injury often precludes obtaining a high percentage of good and excellent results, the outcomes after treatment of acute complex elbow instability with hinged external fixation by use of the technique detailed in this series are comparable to those of similar series.