ELBOW ARTHROLYSIS VIA THE TRANSHUMERAL APPROACH: THIRTEEN CASES

Purpose: The approach chosen for total elbow arthrolysis is crucial. It should allow access to all lesions causing joint stiffness yet avoid excessive mutilation. We report our experience with the transhumeral approach respecting the lateral structures.Material and methods: Thirteen transhumeral elbow arthrolyses were performed from 1996 to 2002 and reviewed retrospectively at mean 18 months (6–63). Mean age at surgery was 44 years. Stiffness resulted from trauma in five patients and degenerative disease in eight. The SOFCOT classification was severe in two, moderate in ten and minimal in one. Arthroysis was performed by the posterior transtricipital technique. After releasing the fossa and the olecranon beak, the coronoid process and the anterior capsule were released using a transhumeral bone window. Two patients also underwent ulnar nerve transposition. Rehabilitation was initiated early and continued for 17 weeks on average.Results: At last follow-up, active elbow extension improved from −39±9° to 21±...