Arthroscopic Treatment of Elbow Fractures

Trauma is a recent application of elbow arthroscopy. The complex anatomy of the elbow may necessitate extensive surgical approaches, potentially from multiple directions. Elbow arthroscopy can afford excellent exposure of the joint with minimal additional surgical trauma. When applied to elbow fractures, arthroscopy can improve the visualization of the articular surface and, via magnification, facilitate precise reduction. In order to achieve this however, many details regarding patient positioning, instrumentation, portal placement, and specific techniques unique to arthroscopic fracture management need to be observed. We describe our techniques for the treatment of capitellum fractures, anterior coronal shear fractures, unicondylar distal humerus fractures, coronoid fractures, radial head fractures, and pediatric lateral condyle fractures with elbow arthroscopy.