Posterior dislocation of the elbow in children.

A series of 58 traumatic dislocations of the elbow observed over a 5-year period is reported. Average age of the children was 12 years old (range, 6 to 15 years). All dislocations were posterior. Neurovascular complications were few and transient in all cases. Associated fractures were present in 64% of the cases. In six cases (10%) closed reduction of the dislocation failed. Nineteen children (33%) were operated on, in most cases because of an associated fracture of the medial epicondyle. Results were the following: 21 excellent, 12 good, four fair, and two poor. Functional impairment was present only in the two cases with poor results. These occurred in patients in whom an associated fracture of the neck of the radius was present and were due to radioulnar synostosis.