Loss of elbow joint motion due to various causes is called elbow stiffness. This includes fibrous stiffness and bony stiffness. Etiology 1. Fractures around the elbow joint Fractures in and around the elbow joint may mostly lead to decreased joint mobility after conservative treatment or surgery, especially intra-articular fractures that have not reached anatomical repositioning, and are more likely to lead to joint stiffness and even joint ankylosis. 2.Post-traumatic ossifying myositis Easily occurs after fracture or heavy soft tissue trauma of the elbow joint, which may lead to complete ankylosis of the elbow joint in severe cases. 3.Joint infection Advanced lesions such as tuberculosis and septic arthritis of the elbow joint are prone to reduced joint mobility, and further development can lead to stiffness of the joint. 4. Chronic injury Long-term work such as percussion and mechanical vibration can lead to a decrease in the movement of the elbow joint. Elbow joint stiffness is characterized by less joint mobility or even complete loss. The stiffness is mostly in the flexion position, affecting the patient’s daily physiological activities. For patients with elbow fracture or soft tissue trauma, early rehabilitation, including exercise therapy and physical therapy, can be used to improve joint mobility, but excessive passive exercises should be avoided to prevent the formation of ossifying myositis. 2.Surgical treatment is the main means of treating stiffness or ankylosis of the elbow joint, and is more applicable to younger patients. If the stiffness is in a functional position and there are no symptoms such as painful joint movement, surgery is not necessarily needed to solve the problem. Surgical methods include: (1) Elbow release: for cases with fibrous adhesions and an intact joint surface. Arthroscopic release of the stiff elbow joint is less traumatic than conventional incisional surgery, and patients can perform functional exercises in the early postoperative period, which helps to restore the maximum range of motion of the elbow joint; at the same time, elbow arthroscopy allows observation and diagnosis of the entire elbow joint and one-stage treatment of consolidation, so it is more easily accepted by the majority of patients. Therefore, it is more acceptable to the majority of patients. (2) Elbow arthroplasty: such as fascioplasty and partial elbow arthroplasty, mainly for patients with damage to the cartilage and part of the subchondral bone of the elbow joint, with severe arthritis, significantly limited activity and significant pain. (3) Elbow arthroplasty: for patients with severe joint destruction or partial bone loss, the surgery can significantly improve the patient’s symptoms and improve joint mobility.