The Clinical Contradistinctive Analysis Of Arthrolysis For Posttraumatic Stifness Of The Elbow Using External Fixation And The Traditional Method

Objective To report the early experience of arthrolysis Arthrolysis for posttraumatic stifness of the elbow using external fixation and the traditional method.Methods From January 2006 to december 2007,50 patients with posttraumatic stiffness of the elbow underwent arthmlysis,The study group included 37 males and 13 females,with an average age of33.8 years(range,14-59 years).The patient were treated with two method including functional practice.Results follow-up period of 16 months showed that.In the group of the arthmlysis using the traditional method,the mean maximum flexion improved from preoperative 91.4degrees to postoperative 118.2degrees,the mean maximum extension from preoperative 43.8degrees to postoperative 28.5degrees,and the average total range of motion from preoperative 47.6 degrees to postoperative 89.7degrees.The Mayo elbow performance index increased from preoperative 47.5 points to postoperative 78.4 points.In the group of the arthmlysis using external fixation,the mean maximum flexion improved from preoperative 80.3degrees to postoperative 128.2 degrees,the mean maximum extension from preoperative 49.6 degrees to postoperative 31.1 degrees,and the average total range of motion from preoperative 30.7 degrees to postoperative 97.1 degrees.The Mayo elbow performance index increased from preoperative 40.7points to postoperative 82.3 points.Statistic analysis show the difference between pre-operative pro-operative of two group(P＜0.05) and difference between two group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Arthrolysis for posttraumatic stiffness of the elbow using externalfixation improves obviously the motion function of the stiff elbow.More than the the traditional method.