Lesões ligamentares agudas do cotovelo / Acute ligamentar injuries of the elbow

RESUMO

Stability of the elbow joint, one of the most stable joints of the body, is provided mainly by its osseous structure, but the soft tissues around the joint also have an important role. When a dislocation occurs it is of paramount importance to evaluate the joint stability after reduction. The great majority of simple dislocations has a good prognosis. ln rare occasions, when the elbow requires flexion beyond approximately 50 degrees to remain reduced, surgical intervention should be considered. Joint stiffness, heterotopic ossification, chronic instability and posttraumatic arthritis may occur, mainly after complex dislocations. The paucity of data regarding this issue has led the authors to review the specific contribution of the structures responsible for the stability of the elbow joint, as well as the principles of management of these challenging injuries.