Novel Insights in Elbow Trauma

In this thesis a number of observations are described in patients that had elbow trauma. These observations focus on the etiology of elbow osteochondrosis, radiologic classification of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum, arthroscopic treatment of elbow trauma, adverse events after treatment of elbow trauma, and priming of outcome scores. The results of the studies in this thesis show that many aspects related to elbow trauma are still unclear. However, this thesis provides a good handle for future studies. It is clear that lot of work needs to be done to get a grasp on elbow trauma and to improve patient care.

Musculoskeletal trauma is among the ten most common causes for loss of healthy life years (disability adjusted life years) in Western Countries. Nine percent of all musculoskeletal trauma is related to the elbow; in athletes the prevalence is 11 percent. Approximately 80 percent of patients that had elbow trauma is 50 years of age or less. Therefore we conclude that elbow trauma usually occurs in the work population. Elbow trauma can result in less quality of life and inability to work, which can have a substantial impact on society. 

In this thesis a number of observations are described in patients that had elbow trauma. These observations focus on the etiology of elbow osteochondrosis, radiologic classification of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum, arthroscopic treatment of elbow trauma, adverse events after treatment of elbow trauma, and priming of outcome scores.

The results of the studies in this thesis show that many aspects related to elbow trauma are still unclear. However, this thesis provides a good handle for future studies. It is clear that lot of work needs to be done to get a grasp on elbow trauma and to improve patient care.

Read the thesis.