PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Iordens, Gijs I T
AU  - Van Lieshout, Esther M M
AU  - Schep, Niels W L
AU  - De Haan, Jeroen
AU  - Tuinebreijer, Wim E
AU  - Eygendaal, Denise
AU  - Van Beeck, Ed
AU  - Patka, Peter
AU  - Verhofstad, Michael H J
AU  - Den Hartog, Dennis
ED  - ,
TI  - Early mobilisation versus plaster immobilisation of simple elbow dislocations: results of the FuncSiE multicentre randomised clinical trial
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094704
DP  - 2017 Mar 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 531--538
VI  - 51
IP  - 6
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/6/531.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/6/531.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2017 Mar 01; 51
AB  - Background/aim To compare outcome of early mobilisation and plaster immobilisation in patients with a simple elbow dislocation. We hypothesised that early mobilisation would result in earlier functional recovery.Methods From August 2009 to September 2012, 100 adult patients with a simple elbow dislocation were enrolled in this multicentre randomised controlled trial. Patients were randomised to early mobilisation (n=48) or 3 weeks plaster immobilisation (n=52). Primary outcome measure was the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick-DASH) score. Secondary outcomes were the Oxford Elbow Score, Mayo Elbow Performance Index, pain, range of motion, complications and activity resumption. Patients were followed for 1 year.Results Quick-DASH scores at 1 year were 4.0 (95% CI 0.9 to 7.1) points in the early mobilisation group versus 4.2 (95% CI 1.2 to 7.2) in the plaster immobilisation group. At 6 weeks, early mobilised patients reported less disability (Quick-DASH 12 (95% CI 9 to 15) points vs 19 (95% CI 16 to 22); p<0.05) and had a larger arc of flexion and extension (121° (95% CI 115° to 127°) vs 102° (95% CI 96° to 108°); p<0.05). Patients returned to work sooner after early mobilisation (10 vs 18 days; p=0.020). Complications occurred in 12 patients; this was unrelated to treatment. No recurrent dislocations occurred.Conclusions Early active mobilisation is a safe and effective treatment for simple elbow dislocations. Patients recovered faster and returned to work earlier without increasing the complication rate. No evidence was found supporting treatment benefit at 1 year.Trial registration number NTR 2025.