Surgical management of chronic medial elbow instability.

Abstract

Chronic medial elbow instability in the active adult working population is a rarely diagnosed entity. Although it is recognized in the professional athlete as a cause of disability, reports in the general population do not exist. Fourteen adult patients with symptomatic chronic medial instability were evaluated from 1982 to 1986. Surgical reconstruction of the medial collateral ligaments was performed with follow-up evaluation averaging two years. Symptomatic complaints, physical examination, and roentgenographic evaluation were recorded preoperatively. Range of motion, postoperative stability, ulnar nerve symptomatology, and activity level were recorded postoperatively. All but one patient reported improved stability of the elbow.