[Capsular arthroplasty of the elbow joint for the treatment of recurrent dislocation. Personal results in comparison with case reports in literature. Indication--methods--after care].

Four cases of recurrent dislocation of the elbow joint are reported. Instability of the postero-lateral ligaments were found in all patients, both clinically and during operation. In one case there was also instability of the medial ligament. Lateral instability is regarded as the primary lesion responsible for recurrent dislocation. Intraarticular pathological lesions such as osteochondral fractures were also diagnosed in our patients. All were treated by a capsuloligamentous repair as proposed by Osborne and Cotterill [8]. Based on follow-ups of 2 to nearly 5 years no recurrences were seen. The patients were free of pain with a nearly full range of motion. Considering the results reported in the literature of cases treated by the same method, the authors are convinced that the operation repairs the essential lesion.