Published in:
01-06-2013 | Original Article
Dislocations of the elbow in children: long-term follow-up
Published in: MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY | Special Issue 1/2013
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Background
Dislocation of the elbow in children is considered to be a benign injury in most cases. The aim of this paper is to evaluate whether this condition has late sequelae in the adult age. The study consisted of a retrospective evaluation of patients under 15 years old at the time of injury.
Methods
40 patients were selected for the follow-up evaluation. The mean age of the children at the time of injury was 10.9 years old (range 5–14 years). Four patients were lost to follow-up, so they were not considered for final clinical evaluation. For the other 36 patients, the follow-up examination was undertaken after an average of 15 years (range 7–22 years). The average age of the patients at the follow-up was 26 (range 18–34 years).
Results
At the end of follow-up period, there were few subjective complications. No redislocations occurred. None of the patients had been influenced by their elbow injury in their choice of occupation. X-rays were available for 27 patients. These were graded using Linscheid and Wheeler criteria and were excellent in 14 patients, good in 10 and fair in 3.
Conclusions
Dislocation of the elbow in children is a benign injury in the majority of cases and has a good prognosis in the adult age too in spite of extensive damage to the periarticular structures. Ectopic ossifications are a common finding, but only large periarticular ectopic ossifications were associated with a decrease in range on motion. Extension loss is the most common sequelae.
Level of evidence IV.