Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the medium- to long-term results of elbow collateral ligament repairs performed with suture anchors. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery for elbow collateral ligament repairs between 2011 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. We included patients who had undergone surgery for complex elbow dislocations. Patients were excluded from the study if they had a previous infection, a fracture, an operation on the same elbow, a stiff elbow, or a follow-up period of less than 1 year. For the functional evaluation, the range of motion (ROM) and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) were used for the postoperative functional assessments. The radiological evaluation used varus and valgus stress radiographs of healthy and operated extremities taken while applying an 80 N force with a digital dynamometer. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (24 male and 11 female) were included in the study. Eighteen patients had isolated lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries, nine patients had isolated medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries, and eight patients had LCL and MCL injuries. The mean age was 32 (18-68) years, and the follow-up period was 104.8 (32-147) months. The mean value of the MEPS was 92.1+-10.3; 22 patients had excellent, 11 patients had good, and only two patients had fair results. Patients with isolated LCL and MCL repairs achieved better flexion motion than patients with combined ligament repairs (142.5° and 141.7° vs. 138.6°). When comparing operated and healthy extremities, radiocapitellar joint distance (RCJD) was found to increase by 0.8+-0.5 mm, and ulnotrochlear joint distance (UTJD) was found to increase by 1.18+-0.5 mm, but these changes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the use of suture anchors in elbow collateral ligament injuries is a valid solution for treatment and prevention of instability in patients with isolated or combined repairs.