The Causes and Frequency of Elbow Joint Dislocation in a Regional-Referral Hospital in Afghanistan

To find causes and number of elbow joint dislocation in Kunduz regional hospital- Afghanistan in 2021. The aim is to understand what the causes are and try to reduce the incidence by informing the people and discuss with the government.

We conducted a prospective case series study to figure out causes and number of elbow joint dislocations in Kunduz Regional Hospital- Afghanistan from the beginning up to the end of 2021. This study included 23 patients; the age was above 5 years old. The data were entered in spreadsheet and analyzed in SPSS program.    

Among 23 patients, 18 (78%) were male, 5 (22%) were female. Fourteen cases were 10-30 years of age; 15 (66%) were residents of Kunduz province. In 10 (43%) fall from height, 6 (26%) road traffic accident, 5 (22%) sports injuries, and in 2 (9%) family assault were the causes of elbow joint dislocation.In 19 (84%) cases posterior dislocation, in 1 (4%) anterior dislocation, in 1 (4%) lateral dislocation, in 1 (4%) open posterior dislocation with fracture and in 1 (4%) complex closed posterior dislocation; were the types of dislocations. Elbow dislocation was more on right side (61%). 21 (92%) of elbow dislocations were treated non-operatively, and 2 (8%) operatively. In 21 (92%) there was no complication, in 1 (4%) myositis ossificans and in 1 (4%) non-reduced dislocation treated by traditional bone setter were observed.

The most common causes of elbow dislocation were fall from height and road traffic accident. Postero-lateral was the most commonly seen type of dislocation.