Abstract
Objective To evaluate the functional results of patients submitted to a surgical approach for
the treatment of the terrible triad of the elbow, analyzing the treatment methods
used and associated epidemiological variables.
Methods Patients who underwent surgical treatment for the terrible triad of the elbow from
February 2018 to June 2020 at our service were evaluated. The identified sample consisted
of 17 patients, but of these, only 13 completed all stages of the study and, therefore,
were considered as the universe to be considered. Epidemiological information of interest
was collected: age, sex, hand of dominance, affected side, characteristics and classification
of injuries, trauma mechanism, time to surgery, type of procedure performed and range
of motion. The Mason classification was used for radial head fractures and the Regan
and Morrey classification for the coronoid process. In order to perform a functional
analysis, the DASH and BRUCE questionnaires were applied.
Results About 77% of the patients were male, 92% of the fracture mechanisms were due to high-energy
trauma. Contrary to this, the predominance of the non-dominant side was observed as
the most affected. Evaluating the results according to the time to start the treatment,
the patients operated within 14 days had statistically better functional results.
Conclusion Surgical treatment of TTIE generates acceptable functional results in most cases.
The success of the treatment is related to the time interval between the trauma and
the first surgery, in addition to the severity of the injuries.
Keywords
coronoid fracture - elbow dislocation - radial head fracture - terrible triad injury
of elbow - elbow joint.
