The causes of disability as a result of the elbow joint injuries

The aim of the work is to find out the causes of disability as a result of the elbow joint injuries.Materials and methods. 56 people disabled due to elbow joint injuries were examined. Identification of the disability causes was performed according to the criteria of life activity limitation in the disability groups (I, II, III) establishment. In this research, the medical reasons that led to persistent functional and morphological disorders were considered.Results. The conditions of the elbow joint that led to disability consisted of functional disorders in the form of contracture or ankylosis which were observed in 100% of the affected patients, and morphological disorders in the form of slow healing - 33.9%, deformities of the elbow joint bones - 32.1%, neuropathies of the radial, median, ulnar nerves - 16.1%, false joints - 8.9%, obsolete dislocations - 5.4%, defects of the radial head - 1.8% and osteomyelitis - 1.8%.Functional abnormalities in the form of contracture were more frequently observed in conservative treatment (24.5%), extramedullary osteosynthesis (45.3%), and osteosynthesis with K-wires and screws (15.1%), and ankylosis - in conservative treatment (2 of 3 cases).Morphological disorders in the form of: pseudoarthrosis were more often found in conservative treatment and extramedullary osteosynthesis (40% each); slow healing - in extramedullary osteosynthesis (42.1%), transosseous osteosynthesis (21.1%) and conservative treatment (21.1%); neuropathy – in extramedullary osteosynthesis (44.5%) and transosseous osteosynthesis (33.3%); obsolete dislocations - in conservative treatment (66.7%); bone deformities - in extramedullary osteosynthesis (50.0%) and conservative treatment (38.9%).Conclusions. The reasons for the formation of disability as a result of the elbow joint injuries are: a) morphological conditions in the form of slow fractures healing (33.9%), deformities of  the elbow joint bones (32.1%), neuropathies (16.1%), pseudoarthrosis (8.9%), obsolete dislocations (5.4%), defects of the radial head (1.8%) and osteomyelitis (1.8%); b) functional conditions in the form of contractures with functionally impaired range of motion – 25.0% and ankylosis in functionally impaired position – 5.4%. Disorders of the morphological and functional state of the elbow joint leading to disability may depend on both the severity of the injuries and the types and quality of the treatment.