Chronic Elbow Instability: Arthroscopic Imbrication of the Lateral Collateral Ligament

There are several advantages of an all-arthroscopic technique to restore lateral stability of the elbow versus open techniques using a graft [1]. Arthroscopy allows the surgeon to evaluate the entire elbow, and associated pathology, such as loose bodies or cartilage lesions, can be treated arthroscopically in many cases. Arthroscopic imbrication of the lateral collateral ligament has been shown to yield excellent results with a minimal chance of complications. It has therefore become one of the standard options to treat lateral instability for surgeons trained in elbow arthroscopy [2]. The basics of elbow arthroscopy will be discussed in other chapters. In this chapter, we will focus on the arthroscopic imbrication of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) complex.