RESULTS: The average arc of elbow motion increased from 45° preoperatively to 112°, with an improvement of 67° at the final follow-up evaluation. The mean MEPI score was 91.9. At the final evaluation, 65 patients (84.4%) obtained a total motion arc of ≥100°. Recurrent HO was observed in 16 patients postoperatively, and 6 underwent repeated surgical release. The time from the initial injury to surgical release with a cutoff value of 19 months was the only independent factor affecting the final range of motion (ROM) in multivariable median regression analysis. With the numbers studied, no significant association was found between the final ROM and other clinical variables except for the recurrence of HO (93° vs 117°).
CONCLUSIONS: From the results of our study, we can support the surgical treatment of elbow stiffness caused by post-traumatic HO regardless of preoperative ROM. However, recurrence of heterotopic bone and delay in surgery of more than 19 months are associated with less favorable results.
PMID: 23796381 [PubMed - in process]
Read more... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23796381?dopt=Abstract
