Early mobilisation for elbow fractures

There is no evidence on the optimal timing of mobilisation after non-surgical or surgical treatment for adults with elbow fractures.

The quality of evidence is downgraded by limitations in study quality (inadequate follow up; poor reporting), by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals) and by potential reporting bias.

Summary

A Cochrane review on early mobilisation versus delayed mobilisation of the elbow after elbow fractures in adults included 1 study with a total of 81 subjects with Mason type 1 and 2 radial head fractures. Follow-up times ranged between 2 and 47 months. The trial found no significant differences between early and delayed mobilisation in the numbers of participants with pain or limitations in their range of elbow motion. All participants were reported as being able to use their arms for full activities of daily living and none had changed their occupation or lifestyle. There was no mention of fracture complications.

Clinical comments

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Ədəbiyyat

1. Harding P, Rasekaba T, Smirneos L, Holland AE. Early mobilisation for elbow fractures in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(6):CD008130.