Conservative treatment of elbow dislocations in adults.

The results of 20 conservatively treated elbow dislocations were retrospectively studied in 20 adults older than 16 years. After an average follow-up of 5 1/2 years (range 2-10 years), 16 patients (80%) had good or excellent results. Only two patients with neurological lesions showed poor results. According to the literature instability is always present after reduction of elbow dislocations. The conservatively treated patients of the present series showed no serious problems with long-term elbow instability at follow-up. In case of simple elbow dislocations instability after reduction does not form an indication for surgical treatment.