Medial Elbow Instability in Athletes

In Sports and Ballet Trauma Department of CITO 52 sportsmen of high qualification with medial elbow instability were treated from 1983 to 1995. Clinical signs and methods of examination are presented. The authors define three degrees of elbow instability resulted from medial collateral ligament insufficiency. This classification is taken as a principle for the choice of treatment tacktics. In 28 patients with instability of degree 1 the lateral stability of the joint was restored conservatively (remedial gymnastics to strengthen the surrounding muscles with special attention to the medial head of the triceps, electrostimulation, novocaine blockade along the ligament). Sixteen patients out of that group underwent the revision of elbow joint with chondroplasty and removal of loose bodies. Instability of degrees 2 and 3 was the indication to surgical treatment. Damaged capsular ligamentous system was sutured by dublicatums technique. In 3 patients autograft from triceps tendon was used to strengthen the medial wall of the elbow joint. Forty six patients were examined within 1-6 years after treatment; function elbow and sports activity were restored completely in all patients.