[Arthroscopic management of the stiff elbow].

Elbow stifness has diverse etiologies, the most common being post-trauma. It appears that both arthroscopic and open techniques can achieve satisfactory results when employed properly. Their use is dictated both by the surgeon's level of expertise and an accurate preoperative assessment. When the release is done arthroscopically, collateral ligament stability is not compromised and morbidity from surgical dissection is minimized. The technique of arthroscopic release is described with all steps and difficulties. Arthroscopic capsular release is a technically demanding procedure that requires meticulous attention to detail and should only be attempted by surgeons with extensive experience in elbow arthroscopy.