Conservative treatment of an unstable elbow after pure lateral dislocation: Outcome and a literature review

Abstract

Background: The elbow is the second most common site of dislocation in the upper limb. Pure lateral elbow dislocations are, however, rare, with few reported cases in the literature. Case report: A 50-year-old bricklayer presented with a lateral elbow dislocation treated by closed reduction procedure under anaesthesia, with a 3-week immobilization period in a posterior splint, followed by auto-rehabilitation. The patient returned to work after three months, and a full range of motion was achieved after two years of follow-up. Conclusion: Pure lateral displacement is the rarest form of elbow dislocation, managing it can be more challenging than other forms, and surgeons must be aware of the high potential for soft tissue incarceration. Although all treatment plans present generally positive outcomes, outcomes of non-surgical treatment seems to be better.

Keywords

• Elbow dislocation
• Pure lateral dislocation
• Closed reduction