Fractures of the elbow are very common, and when very severe they may cause an unstable elbow. This instability can lead to a lot of pain and the early development of arthritis. Currently available surgery for elbow fractures may itself lead to an unstable elbow. This means that following surgery, patients are slower to mobilise their elbows and may be left with chronic instability which is very difficult to treat. These researchers have developed a new approach to elbow surgery (the Wrightington approach). Unlike current treatment, this technique does not divide elbow ligaments which are important for elbow stability. The aim of this study is to compare the current treatment with this new approach to see whether elbow stability can be improved. If this research shows that the new surgical approach results in more stable elbows, then it could provide an important new way to manage difficult elbow fractures.