[The operative treatment of recurrent and simple traumatic dislocations of the elbow by the method of Osborne and Cotterill (author's transl)].

The essential pathological defect causing dislocation of the elbow is failure of the postero-lateral ligamentous and capsular structures. A pocket of the capsule is created into which the head of the radius is received as it slides off its articulation with the humerus. Damage to the osteochondral surface of the radius and capitulum humeri is often significant in recurrent and also simple traumatic dislocations of the elbow joint. An osteochondral fracture may occur in simple dislocation happening but once and predispose for recurrent dislocation. For treatment of recurrent dislocation we prefer the simple method of Osborne and Cotterill because in our opinion it attacks the essential lesion. More complicated techniques such as bone blocks or tendon transfers, are believed to be less effective and unnecessary. Four patients with recurrent dislocation of the elbow joint were treated successfully by this method, based on an follow-ups of from 2 to 4 years. Encouraged by the results we transferred the method to the treatment of simple traumatic dislocations in 10 patients. A follow-up of these patients has shown that an early operation will give satisfactory functional results. In the meanwhile the method of Osborne and Cotterill has become a standard technique for the treatment of osteochondrosis dissecans too by the authors.