Elbow Dislocation and Its Association with Vascular Disruption

1. Including the present case report, nine instances of open dislocation of the elbow have been encountered since the turn of the century. In all except the present instance there was disruption of the brachial vessels at the antecubital fossa while the median nerve remained intact. 2. Five cases of closed dislocation of the elbow with disruption of the brachial vessels have been observed since 1900. Immediate surgical intervention is needed in this group as well as in the open dislocations. 3. It is not only unnecessary but undesirable to attempt to re-establish the continuity of the brachial vessels at the antecubital fossa because of the rich collateral circulation that is known to exist.