Although dislocation of the elbow is a common injury, it has been the subject of very few papers in the orthopaedic literature during the last 20 years. The recommendations for treatment have usually been conservative but in later years wider indications for surgical treatment with ligament repair have been recommended. Seventy-two patients with simple elbow dislocations (38) and fracture dislocations (34) treated at the departments of orthopaedic surgery in Göteborg 1975-1980 were reviewed. Results for patients with simple dislocations were excellent and good in 85 per cent and no difference could be recorded between those treated by surgery and those treated conservatively. Results after treatment of fracture-dislocations were generally worse and only 41 per cent achieved excellent or good results. We concluded that most simple dislocations should be treated conservatively with closed reduction followed by a short period of immobilization. In fracture-dislocations surgical repair of the elbow ligaments should be considered especially when the radial head has been excised.