Post-traumatic stiff elbow involves loss of movement in flexion–extension and/or pronation–supination, significantly hampering daily living activities. Stiffness can result from traumatic injury involving the periarticular soft tissues and/or fracture of the articular surfaces. A variety of surgical approaches are available to treat these patients. Preoperative planning and choice of the surgical strategy require a comprehensive clinical assessment that is currently based on X-rays associated with an accurate computed tomography (CT) study and, increasingly, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. 3D printing technology is useful in planning the surgical strategy, particularly in patients with post-traumatic joint deformity.