Elbow dislocation may present as an isolated injury or as one of many injuries sustained in the polytrauma patient. Appropriate assessment and management of these patients along trauma algorithms may be necessary. A detailed history of the mechanism of injury is beneficial, and information regarding the patient’s functional status can be helpful in guiding treatment.

Fig. (1). Antero-posterior and lateral radiographs showing postero-lateral simple elbow dislocation.

On clinical examination, the dislocated elbow will be deformed with the forearm typically described in a position of varus and supination for postero-lateral dislocations. Careful assessment and documentation of neurovascular status should be completed prior to, and following, reduction as entrapment of neurovascular structures can occur and necessitates urgent surgical management. Other injuries to the limb should be sought, with particular focus on the distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ) to assess for interosseous membrane injury. Radiographs should be used to confirm the extent of the injury, and in simple elbow dislocations anteroposterior and lateral radiographs usually suffice. In more complex injuries computed tomography can often be beneficial in planning further management (Figs. 1 and 2).

Fig. (2). Antero-posterior and lateral radiographs showing postero-lateral simple elbow dislocation.

Reduction of the dislocation to stable congruent joint is the aim of treatment. Simple dislocations of the elbow are usually reduced in the emergency department with analgesia and conscious sedation, however, manipulation can be performed under a general anaesthetic in the operating theatre, and this allows a more comprehensive examination under anaesthesia of the reduced joint. In the adequately sedated patient, reduction is achieved by correction of any medial or lateral displacement, flexion of the elbow to approximately 25 degrees, supination of the forearm and longitudinal traction with countertraction of the upper arm by an assistant [3]. A reduction ‘clunk’ may be heard. Clinical and radiographic examination should then be repeated to confirm the reduction (Figs. 3 and 4). Occasionally, a computed tomography scan may be required to gain more information about any associated fractures and their significance (Fig. 5).

Fig. (3). Antero-posterior and lateral radiographs after closed reduction of a simple elbow dislocation – note medial epicondyle avulsion fracture.

Fig. (4). Antero-posterior and lateral radiographs after closed reduction of a simple elbow dislocation – note medial epicondyle avulsion fracture.

In simple dislocations, the bony congruency is often sufficient to achieve and maintain a stable closed reduction, however, the elbow should be examined for signs of instability. It should be taken through a gentle full range of motion in the flexion-extension plane. If dislocation reoccurs, the degree of extension causing dislocation should be recorded and then re-examined with the forearm in pronation. If the elbow remains unstable with the forearm in pronation and greater than 45 degrees of elbow flexion, then early surgical intervention with ligamentous repair, reconstruction or external fixation is indicated. Varus and valgus stress testing in extension and 30 degrees of flexion should also be performed as well as posterolateral rotatory stress testing by means of the lateral pivot-shift manoeuvre [3, 8, 10].

Following a stable reduction, the elbow can be rested in a sling, splint or bulky bandage for 3-7 days [11]. If the elbow is unstable between 45 degrees of flexion and full extension then an extension block combined with a hinged brace can be used [8]. Full plasters should be avoided due to the potential to pull the elbow into a subluxated position. Immobilisation of any form for more that 2-3 weeks should also be avoided, as it is associated with a poorer outcome [4, 12, 13]. Indeed, in a recent multicenter randomized control trial comparing early active mobilization to plaster immobilization for 3 weeks, patients in the early active mobilization group demonstrated a significantly greater range of movement, a faster recovery and faster return to work [14].

Fig. (5). Three-dimensional computed tomography scan showing medial epicondyle avulsion following reduction of a simple elbow dislocation (this has ruled out any significant osseous injuries).

For the majority of patients, functional treatment alone has been shown to provide good outcomes in long-term studies. 50% of patients gain an excellent range of movement (with a loss of less than 5°) and normal strength, and a third of patients have good results (with less than 15° loss of range and minimal discomfort) [11, 12, 15]. The loss of range of movement is typically of the final 10-15 degrees of extension. Despite objectively good outcomes, many patients, however, describe ongoing symptoms, and in a study looking at patient reported outcomes 62% of participants described some residual pain and 56% reported ongoing subjective stiffness at a mean 7 years follow up [5].

Instability is a less common problem than stiffness, but has received more attention in the literature since the anatomical basis of postero-lateral rotatory instability was described [16]. Up to one third of patients may report symptoms of instability [14], but functional instability will depend on the demand on the joint and has been reported at 8% [5]. An even lower proportion of only 2.3% of patients may actually require any form of soft tissue stabilisation procedure for this [17].

Following a stable reduction, early surgical intervention to repair the damaged soft tissues around the elbow has shown no additional benefit over functional treatment whilst conferring the additional risk of an open surgical procedure and should therefore be avoided [18-20]. However, the spectrum of soft tissue injury around elbow dislocation varies widely and there may well be a role of soft tissue repair in the more highly unstable elbow [21]. In cases of soft tissue repair there remains no clear benefit to early surgery in comparison to delayed intervention [22]. The role of ligamentous repair in elbow dislocation would benefit from further study.

A recent population database study of nearly 5000 patients with a minimum 2 year follow up showed that few patients require delayed surgery (3.6%) following a simple elbow dislocation. Only 1.5% of patients had a failed closed reduction requiring subsequent open reduction [23] and 1.2% required contracture releases within 4 years of injury [17].

Other injuries and long-term sequelae do occur and care should be taken in the assessment and follow up of these patients. Neurological injury has been reported in up to 20% of simple dislocations [24]. This is usually a transient paraesthesia of the ulna nerve, but there can be more permanent injury and the median nerve can also be affected. The brachial artery can be damaged due to traction at the time of dislocation or by entrapment following reduction. Emergent complications requiring surgical intervention such as open dislocations or compartment syndrome have been reported, but are very rare. Heterotopic ossification has been documented to occur in up to 75% of cases, but is only motion limiting in around 5% of cases [24] and usually does not require surgical intervention.

Simple elbow dislocations are a commonly seen injury within orthopaedic practice and expedient closed reduction and early active mobilisation usually results in excellent or good long-term functional outcomes.

Despite a recent increasing trend for early surgical ligamentous repair, a Cochrane review and further cohort series have shown no benefit to early surgical intervention following stable reduction. Further research is required to fully establish the role and benefits of surgery.

A recent large multi-centre randomized control trial and many cohort studies have shown that early functional treatment is better than immobilization with patient achieving a greater range of movement, faster recovery and a faster return to work. However, patient reported studies suggest that rates of residual pain and subjective stiffness are higher than previously thought.

Assessment for instability must be performed acutely and at follow up, and if present then it should be further investigated. However, the overall number of patients requiring surgical intervention for any cause following simple elbow dislocation is low at 4% with procedures usually performed within 4 years of the injury [17].