Post-traumatic pure dislocation of the elbow: what is the outcome?

Elbow dislocations are very frequent. We conducted a retrospective study of 40 patients with dislocations of the elbow whose data were collected between 2013 and 2015. All patients underwent emergency reduction under sedation or under general anesthesia. Treatment was completed with antalgic immobilization for about ten days followed by active mobilization. After a mean follow-up period of 24 months, flexion and extension mobility greater than 100 was obtained in more than 80% of patients and only two cases had severe stiffness. Overall outcomes assessed using Mayo Elbow Performance Score ranged from good to very good in 35 patients, they were medium in three patients and bad only in two cases.