Abstract
INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the relationship between the genetic polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 13 and posttraumatic elbow stiffness, as well as the association of other risk factors with this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 20 patients with posttraumatic elbow stiffness and 12 controls with traumatic elbow disorders without contracture. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was obtained from buccal mucosa epithelial cells of the volunteers. The MMP-1 and MMP-13 genotypes were determined using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. RESULTS: We did not find any significant differences in the frequency of genotypes and alleles between the test and control groups for the polymorphism of metalloproteinases 1 and 13. We observed that genotypes 1G/2G and 2G/2G of MMP-1 were present in 65% (13/20) of patients with articular stiffness and 50% (6/12) of controls (p = 0.599). Genotypes A/A and A/G of MMP-13 were obtained in 95% (19/20) of patients and 91.6% (11/12) of controls (p = 0.491). Among the prognostic factors for elbow stiffness, only immobilization time correlated positively. The mean immobilization time for cases and controls were 16 ± 10 days and 7 ± 7 days, respectively (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The genetic polymorphism of MMP-1 at position -1607 and MMP-13 at position -77 was not associated with post-traumatic elbow stiffness. Level of Evidence III; Prognosis Study; Case-Control Study.