Pediatric Patients Who Underwent Elbow Arthroscopy Had an 86% Return-to-Sport Rate, a 12% Reoperation Rate, and a 3.7% Complication Rate.

PURPOSE: To assess the applicability and safety of elbow arthroscopy in the pediatric population at our institution by analyzing the indications and complications in a large pediatric patient series.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified all patients who underwent elbow arthroscopy at age 18 years or younger from 2006 to 2017 performed by a single fellowship-trained surgeon. The exclusion criteria were follow-up shorter than 8 weeks and open surgical procedures (not fully arthroscopic). Medical records were reviewed for baseline characteristics, indications for elbow arthroscopy, range of motion, complications, and reoperations.

RESULTS

In total, 191 patients (64 boys and 127 girls) were included, with a median age of 15.5 years (interquartile range, 14.0-16.7 years). Indications for arthroscopic surgery were grouped into treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (60%), debridement for bony or soft-tissue pathology (35%), contracture release (3%), and diagnostic arthroscopy (3%). The complication rate was 3.7%, including 4 minor complications (3 superficial wound problems and 1 case of transient ulnar neuropathy) and 3 major complications (1 case of manipulation under anesthesia for stiffness, 1 deep infection, and 1 [unplanned] reoperation for persistent locking within 1 year of the index procedure). Subsequent surgery was required in 23 patients (12%) because of newly developed, persisting or recurring elbow problems. Of the patients, 86% were able to return to sports.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric elbow arthroscopy performed by an experienced surgeon using a standardized technique for a wide variety of elbow conditions has an acceptable complication rate that is similar to rates in the previously published literature on elbow arthroscopy in the pediatric and adult populations; however, a significant proportion of patients needed subsequent surgery in the following years.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.