BACKGROUND: Dislocation of the @entity2720 is a relatively uncommon @entity130 . OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of various forms of treatment for @entity697 in adults. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised Register (April 2011), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, 2011 Issue 1), MEDLINE (1948 to March Week 5 2011), EMBASE (1980 to 2011 Week 14), PEDro (April 2011), CINAHL (April 2011), various trial registers, various conference proceedings and bibliographies of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of conservative and surgical treatment of dislocations of the elbow in adults. Excluded were trials involving dislocations with associated @entity174 , except for @entity155 @entity174 . DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data extraction and assessment of risk of bias were independently performed by two review authors. There was no pooling of data. MAIN RESULTS: Two small randomised controlled trials, involving a total of 80 @entity1 with @entity3029 , were included. Both trials were methodologically flawed and potentially biased.One trial, involving 50 @entity1 , compared early mobilisation at three days post reduction versus cast immobilisation. At one year follow-up, the recovery of range of motion appeared better in the early mobilisation group (e.g. @entity1 with incomplete recovery of extension: 1/24 versus 5/26; risk ratio 0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.03 to 1.72). However, the results were not statistically significant. There were no reports of instability or recurrence. One @entity1 in each group had @entity158 at one year.The other trial, involving 30 @entity1 , compared surgical repair of the torn ligaments versus conservative treatment (cast immobilisation for two weeks). At final follow-up (mean 27.5 months), there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the numbers of @entity1 who considered their injured elbow to be inferior to their non-injured elbow (10/14 versus 7/14; @entity4736 .43, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.66) or in other @entity1 complaints about their elbow such as @entity425 , @entity158 or weather-related discomfort. There were no reports of instability or recurrence. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in range of motion of the elbow (extension, flexion, pronation, and supination) or grip strength at follow-up. No @entity1 had @entity16 of the hand but two surgical group @entity1 had recurrent dislocation of the ulnar nerve (no other details provided). One @entity1 in each group had radiologically detected @entity5323 (bone formation within muscles following @entity130 ). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence from randomised controlled trials to determine which method of treatment is the most appropriate for simple dislocations of the elbow in adults. Although weak and inconclusive, the available evidence from a trial comparing surgery versus conservative treatment does not suggest that the surgical repair of elbow ligaments for simple @entity3029 improves long-term function. Future research should focus on questions relating to non-surgical treatment, such as the duration of immobilisation.

Interventions for treating XXXX in adults.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'patients', 'patient', 'person'] @entity4736 :: ('6240', 'Gene') :: ['RR 1'] @entity697 :: ('MESH:D000208', 'Disease') :: ['acute simple elbow dislocations'] @entity174 :: ('MESH:D050723', 'Disease') :: ['fractures'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['neurological disturbances'] @entity425 :: ('MESH:D018908', 'Disease') :: ['weakness'] @entity5323 :: ('MESH:D009221', 'Disease') :: ['myositis ossificans'] @entity155 :: ('MESH:D014084', 'Disease') :: ['avulsion'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['residual pain', 'pain'] @entity2720 :: ('MESH:D007592', 'Disease') :: ['elbow joint'] @entity130 :: ('MESH:D014947', 'Disease') :: ['injury'] @entity3029 :: ('MESH:D004204', 'Disease') :: ['simple elbow dislocations', 'elbow dislocation']
@entity697 :: (MESH:D000208,Disease) :: ['acute elbow dislocations']
