ELBOW ARTHROSCOPY: INDICATIONS AND TECHNIQUE: A STUDY OF 23 CASES

Introduction and purpose: Elbow arthroscopy (EA) has developed only recently and the main series have been published since the ‘80s. The present study reviews the experience gained with EA as well as the current indications of this technique in the Orthopaedic Surgery Department of the Purpan Hospital in Toulouse. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study on 23 patients (5 females and 17 males) with a mean age of 39.5 years (range: 17–68 years) operated on between 1993 and 2003. A record was kept of epidemiological variables, the indication, operative findings and the results, with a mean follow-up of 8 months (range: 1–36 months). Results: Indication was diagnostic in 5 cases, diagnostic and therapeutic in 5 cases and diagnostic and therapeutic in 13 cases. A mini-procedure was performed in 3 cases to supplement the surgery of the posterior compartment. In 4 cases an external arthrotomy was carried out in order to extract large-size foreign bodies. The mean gain in ROM was 26°, with a mean gain in flexion of 5° and a mean gain in extension of 20.5°. During follow-up, 5 patients referred a persistence of pain. The best results regarding pain relief were obtained in patients with osteoarthritis. There was only one neurological complication, which was only transient. Discussion and conclusions: We consider the elbow arhtroscopy to be a safe procedure whose mail indication is the extraction of foreign bodies. It is to be expected that the gradual improvement of the surgical technique will open the door to an increase in its indications.