Management of the Flail Elbow

Flail elbow is a relatively uncommon cause of elbow dysfunction. It is defined as the inability to position the arm in space for useful elbow function because of structural or neurologic inadequacies. Patient function is often severely compromised and treatment options are limited with moderate levels of success depending on etiology. This article reviews the various etiologies of dysfunctional elbow instability, their treatment options, and their expected outcomes.