Elbow Fractures with Instability: Evaluation and Treatment Strategies.

The treatment goals of elbow fracture dislocations are congruent reduction of the ulnohumeral and radiocapitellar joints, stable fixation of the proximal ulna, stable fixation or arthroplasty of the radial head, and soft tissue repair. Fracture dislocations occur in patterns, and recognition of these patterns help guide surgical treatment. In patients with persistently unstable fractures after standard fixation, additional temporary joint spanning implants are useful to protect repairs.