LÜ Lijun 1 , CHANG Yanyan 2 , ZHOU Baojun 1 , GAO Qiuming 3 , HU Jieliang 1 , CHEN Liyuan 1 , WEI Kongxing 1 , GAO Fujun 1 , LI Wentao 1 , YUAN Xin 1 , JIN Yibin 1
  • 1. Department of Joint Surgery, First People’s Hospital of Baiyin City, Baiyin Gansu, 730900, P. R. China;
  • 2. Central Operating Room, First People’s Hospital of Baiyin City, Baiyin Gansu, 730900, P. R. China;
  • 3. Department of Traumatology, the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese PLA, Lanzhou Gansu, 730000, P. R. China;
ZHOU Baojun, Email: 2363793654@qq.com
Non-traumatic elbow stiffness; arthroscopy; ulnar nerve release
10.7507/1002-1892.202502076
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Objective  To explore the effectiveness of arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release in the treatment of non-traumatic elbow stiffness. Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with non-traumatic elbow stiffness treated with arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release between April 2019 and September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 46 years ranging from 34 to 56 years. The causes of the disease were rheumatoid arthritis in 3 cases, gouty arthritis in 2 cases, loose bodies in 3 cases, and elbow osteoarthritis in 7 cases. There were 4 cases with ulnar neuritis and 3 cases with synovial osteochondromatosis. The duration of elbow stiffness ranged from 6 to 18 months, with an average of 10 months. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The effectiveness was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score, range of elbow motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), Mayo score, and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) elbow score. Results The operation time was 60-90 minutes, with an average of 65 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 40-100 mL, with an average of 62 mL. All patients were followed up 13-18 months, with an average of 14 months. There was no complication such as vascular and nerve injury, poor wound healing, collateral ligament injury, elbow joint space narrowing, osteophyte proliferation, and loose body formation around the joint. At last follow-up, the elbow range of motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), VAS score, and Mayo score significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). The HSS elbow score was 85-95, with an average of 92; 12 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion Arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release is an effective way to treat non-traumatic elbow stiffness, which has the advantages of small trauma, short operation time, and good effectiveness. It can carry out early elbow rehabilitation training and significantly improve elbow function.

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