Chart showing the decision-making algorithm for acute dislocations and fracture-dislocations. The term stable implies functional stability, meaning that the elbow does not apparently subluxate in the functional arc of motion and appears reduced on plain radiographs. ORIF, open reduction and internal fixation; R.H., radial head. Reproduced with permission from O’Driscoll, S.W., Jupiter, J.B., King, G.J.W., Hotchkiss, R.N., and Morrey, B.F. (2000). The unstable elbow. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 82-A(5), 724–38.