RESUMO
Objective To study the cause and treatment of chronic instability of the elbow.Methods Between August 1998 and August 2002,12 patients with chronic instability of the elbow were treated in our de- partment:They underwent complete medical check-ups and imaging examinations.Surgical exploration was done to determine the causes of their conditions.Their radial and(or)ulnar collateral ligaments were repaired respectively or simultaneously through the medial and lateral approaches for all the patients.All the patients were followed up for two to six years,with an average of three years.Results The follow-ups revealed no recurrent dislocation of elbow in this group.The stress valgus test and lateral pivot shift test(PST)were negative for all the patients.No elbow pain occurred.The mean flexion and extension of elbow ranged from 0 to 135?.The mean pronation was 85?and mean supination 80?.According the evaluation system of Chinese Medical Association,eight cases were rated as excellent and four as fine,with the excellent and fine rate of 100%.Conclusions Lesions of radial and(or) ulnar collateral ligaments are the major cause for chronic instability of the elbow.Surgical reconstruction of the collateral ligaments can obtain good effects in treatment of recurrent dislocation of the elbow.