2017 OTA Annual Meeting: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating Ketotifen Fumarate in Reduction of Posttraumatic Elbow Joint Contracture

145 patients with either a fracture of either the distal humerus or proximal radius were randomized to 6-week therapy with either ketotifen fumarate or placebo. The purpose of this phase II, feasibility study was to examine any possible effect of ketotifen fumarate on elbow joint range of motion at 12 weeks post-injury, as well as to collect data for subsequent studies. Patients were managed with either operative or nonoperative methods. Results demonstrated no significant difference between groups in either flexion-extension range of motion or pronation-supination range of motion. Operatively treated patients demonstrated significantly decreased elbow range of motion compared to nonoperatively treated patients.