Objectives: 

To report early results of the “Internal Joint Stabilizer of the Elbow” (IJS-E) in the treatment of terrible triad injuries and other unstable traumatic elbow dislocations.

Design: 

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: 

Level 1 trauma center.

Patients/Participants: 

Seventeen patients with traumatic elbow instability treated with IJS-E over a 2-year period; 7 of whom sustained terrible triad-type injuries.

Interventions: 

Open reduction internal fixation with the “IJS-E”.

Main Outcome Measures: 

Elbow stability and arc of motion were assessed radiographically and clinically. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores were collected by telephone.

Results: 

All elbows were radiographically stable at the time of IJS-E removal. Mean time of follow-up was 9 months from index operation (range, 2.5–24 months). Mean elbow arc of motion was restored to flexion-extension 92 degrees (range, 5–125; SD, 31 degrees) and forearm pronation-supination 139 degrees (range, 0–180; SD, 48 degrees). Mean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 22.2 (range, 7.5–45.7; SD, 13.3) for patients at least 1 month from surgery on the ipsilateral extremity. Five patients (30%) developed complications, and —2 (12%) required revision for implant failure.

Conclusions: 

The IJS-E offered reliable treatment of traumatic elbow instability, particularly terrible triad-type injuries. It permited early range of motion and was effective in restoring elbow stability. We believe that the use of this relatively novel system should be further explored.

Level of Evidence: 

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

中文翻译：

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内部关节稳定器：创伤性肘部不稳的安全治疗

目标： 

报告“肘部内部关节稳定器”（IJS-E）治疗严重三联征和其他不稳定外伤性肘关节脱位的早期结果。

设计： 

回顾性队列研究。

环境： 

一级创伤中心。

患者/参与者： 

17 名创伤性肘关节不稳患者接受 IJS-E 治疗超过 2 年；其中7人遭受了可怕的三合会伤害。

干预： 

用“IJS-E”切开复位内固定。

主要观察指标： 

通过放射学和临床评估肘部稳定性和运动弧度。通过电话收集手臂、肩部和手部的残疾分数。

结果： 

在 IJS-E 移除时，所有肘部的射线照相稳定。从指数手术开始，平均随访时间为 9 个月（范围为 2.5-24 个月）。平均肘关节运动弧度恢复到屈伸 92 度（范围，5-125；SD，31 度）和前臂旋前 - 旋后 139 度（范围，0-180；SD，48 度）。对于同侧肢体手术后至少 1 个月的患者，手臂、肩部和手部的平均残疾评分为 22.2（范围，7.5-45.7；SD，13.3）。5 名患者 (30%) 出现并发症，并且 —2 (12%) 名患者因种植体失败而需要翻修。

结论： 

IJS-E 为创伤性肘部不稳提供了可靠的治疗，特别是可怕的三合会型损伤。它允许早期的运动范围，并有效地恢复肘部的稳定性。我们认为，应该进一步探索这种相对新颖的系统的使用。

证据等级： 

治疗级别 IV。有关证据级别的完整描述，请参见作者说明。