• Bogdan Veliceasa, Mihaela Pertea, Dragos Popescu, Claudiu Adrian Carp, Roxana Pinzaru, Bogdan Huzum, Ovidiu Alexa, Cristina Strobescu-Ciobanu, and Alexandru Filip.
• University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa" Iasi, Romania.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Sep 30; 101 (39): e30891e30891.

RationaleFloating-dislocated elbow is a severe and extremely rare injury in adults. Reviewing the literature, we found around 6 case reports regarding floating-dislocated elbow in adults.Patient Concerns And DiagnosesWe report 2 cases of this unusual injury association. Both patients suffered a high energy trauma - fall from a height. Initial X-rays (radiography) revealed in both cases the fractures above and below the elbow (floating elbow) and associated elbow dislocation (floating-dislocated elbow). One case was a type IIIB Gustilo-Anderson open fracture-dislocation with an intra-articular component (olecranon fracture).Interventions And OutcomesEach case had his own management problem regarding what to treat first: the dislocation or the associated fractures? Fractures were treated surgically by reduction and internal fixation, and after elbow dislocation reduction, the upper limb was immobilized in a long, well-padded plaster, with the elbow in 90° of flexion, for 3 weeks. Bone union was observed radiographically at 2 months after surgery in both cases. At the 2-year follow-up we recorded full upper limb recovery in terms of muscular trophism and elbow full range of motion.LessonsIn addition to adding 2 new cases to a lower number of such lesion associations in adults, we also added a new variant of floating-dislocated elbow which has not been reported until now in the literature. Prompt management of these injuries, with stable fixation of the fractures allowed for early rehabilitation with excellent 2-years functional outcome.Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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