ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy of one-arm hinged external fixation and Ilizarov circular external fixation in the treatment of traumatic elbow stiffness (TES). MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 33 TES patients. All the patients underwent open lysis, of which 15 patients received combined treatment of one-arm hinged external fixation (one-arm group) and 18 received Ilizarov circular external fixation (Ilizarov group), and the external fixators were removed after 8-10 weeks. The elbow flexion and extension range of motion, elbow rotation range of motion and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were assessed in all patients before operation and 12 months after operation, and the occurrence of postoperative complications was recorded. ResultsTwelve months after operation, the elbow flexion and extension range of motion and rotation range of motion in the two groups were larger than those before operation, with statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05); there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05). Twelve months after operation, both groups processed a higher MEPS as compared with the preoperative scores, with statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of all postoperative complications between the two groups (all P＞0.05). ConclusionBoth types of external fixations combined with open lysis can significantly improve the flexion, extension and rotation functions of TES patients without serious complications. The one-arm external fixation is small in size, comfortable, simple to install, and is more likely to be clinically popularized.

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