The Elbow

non - capsular patterns

Loose Body in Adulthood

Manipulations
Follow-up

One should not expect to reach a painless range of movement
immediately after the manipulation session.
However, if there is a change in endfeel ( indicating a shift
in the position of the loose fragment) a gradual improvement of
pain is to be expected during the days to come.
The patient is seen after a couple of days.

If there is insufficient objective improvement ( still limited
range - pain at end of range and/or a springy endfeel), the
manipulation is repeated.

Normally a loose body can be reduced in one to three sessions.
If not, no further attemps should be undertaken.
It is assumed that manipulations shift the loose body to a position
within the joint where it no longer becomes 'nipped' on movement.

Recurrence rate is very low. However, the manipulations can be repeated
each time derangement occurs.

If the case recurrence is very frequent, removal during arthroscopy may
be a possibility.

Procedure

Technique