Arthroscopic management of elbow trauma.

Abstract

The arthroscope can assist in effectively treating traumatic injuries about the elbow, including some intra-articular fractures. Proper selection of patients is important to ensure effective treatment, but when used judiciously, arthroscopic-assisted debridement and fracture fixation is effective. The arthroscope is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and management of acute intra-articular fractures and in dealing with the sequelae that sometimes cause problems after healing has occurred. It allows for effective fracture treatment without the extensive soft tissue disruption that would be otherwise necessary for exposure. The authors certainly cannot advocate arthroscopic treatment of all intra-articular elbow fractures, but in specific circumstances, the arthroscope cannot only assist but also improve treatment of these sometimes difficult and often challenging injuries. The arthroscope is also useful in the identification of varus, valgus, and posterolateral rotatory instability, particularly when these instabilities are less obvious on clinical examination.