Injury chronicity does not affect outcomes following ligament repair with suture tape augmentation for post-traumatic elbow instability.

HYPOTHESIS: Repair and augmentation techniques have been successfully applied in the treatment of acute ligament injuries causing elbow instability. This study evaluates whether the chronicity of elbow instability affects postoperative outcomes following ligament repair with augmentation using suture tape internal bracing.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 40 patients (mean follow-up 42.5 months; range, 9-99 months) who underwent ligament repair with suture tape augmentation for traumatic elbow instability between 2013 and 2019. Functional outcomes (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Oxford Elbow Score, Mayo Elbow Performance Score, and Visual Analog Scale) and range of motion (ROM) were assessed. Patients were stratified by chronicity using 6 weeks and 12 weeks as thresholds.

RESULTS

Across the cohort, median postoperative scores were: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand 5.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.5-12.7), Oxford 41.0 (IQR 35.0-47.0), Mayo Elbow Performance Score 90.0 (IQR 75.0-100.0), and Visual Analog Scale 1.0 (IQR 0.0-2.0). ROM improvements included flexion-extension arc increase from 135° (IQR 70-145) to 145° (IQR 140-150). No significant differences in functional or ROM outcomes were found between acute and chronic groups using either the 6- or 12-week thresholds.

CONCLUSION

Ligament repair with suture tape internal brace augmentation for traumatic elbow instability achieves favorable outcomes in both acute and chronic presentations.