[Neurogenic paraosteopathy of the elbow: results of surgical arthrolysis (a retrospective study of 37 cases)].

Neurogenic paraosteoarthropathies are ectopic ossifications which develop near the joints. They are a process of neo-ectopic osteogenesis occurring after central or peripheral neurological lesions, in some types of comas (oxygen carbon intoxication, prolonged sedation) and following peripheral traumas including burns. They inolve almost exclusively the large proximal joints of the limbs. Elbow is the second area of involvment. The purpose of our study was to analyze the results of surgical arthrolysis in 37 patients with elbow stiffness due to neurogenic osteoarthropathy of the elbow. We conducted a retrospective study of 35 patients and 37 elbows over a 25-year period. Preoperative assessment included clinical and radiological examination. Since 2003 the patients had undergone systematic elbow arthroscopy. The gold standard surgical treatment was arthrolysis. All patients underwent functional rehabilitation protocol. Outcomes were analyzed after a mean 5-year follow-up period (6 months - 10 years). Neurogenic paraosteoarthropathy was caused by head injury with coma in 58.8% of cases. Preoperative assessment showed bending stiffness in the majority of cases (88%), severe or very severe in 64.7% of cases. Intraoperatively functional elbow range of motion from -30° to 130° was obtained in 61.7% of cases and in 41% of cases in the long term. Ulnar nerve liberation was satisfactory in 92% of cases. No postoperative instability of the elbow was reported. Two patients with definitive neurological lesions had osteoma recurrence. The results were equivalent regardless surgical delay. Surgical arthrolysis is an effective treatment for neurogenic osteomas of the elbow.