Abstract: Objective To compare the degrees of upper limb impairment, which was caused by elbow movement dysfunction, evaluated by “Assessment for Body Impairment of the Injured in Road Traffic Accident”（ABIR） with that evaluated by “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment（GEPI）”． Methods The impairment degrees of 70 persons with elbow joint movement dysfunction were evaluated by ABIR and GEPI, respectively. And the evaluation results were analyzed and compared． Results There was statistical difference between the results. When the elbow movement could not reach to the functional position, there was great difference between the results. When the elbow movement could reach to the functional position, the difference became smaller. The degrees of impairment, which were evaluated by ABIR, were the same when the elbow joint was rigidity with ankylosis in different positions. The degrees of the dysfunction evaluated by ABIR did not change, but the degrees evaluated by GEPI were V-shape change. Conclusion The difference of upper limb dysfunction degrees evaluated by ABIR and GEPI dependent on whether or not to consider the position of elbow joint rigidity．

Key words: forensic medicine, elbow joint, range of motion, articular, disability evaluation