Simultaneous ipsilateral fractures involving radial head and distal end of radius are uncommon. We present our thoughts on which fracture should be addressed first. A 68-year-old lady sustained an ipsilateral fracture of the right radial head and distal end of radius following a fall. Clinically her right elbow was posteriorly dislocated and right wrist was deformed. Plain radiographs showed an intraarticular fracture of the distal end of radius and a comminution radial head fracture with a proximally migrated radius. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no significant ligament injuries. We addressed her distal radius first with an anatomical locking plate followed by her radial head with a radial head replacement. Our rationale to treat the distal end radius: first was to obtain a correct alignment of Lister's tubercle and correct the distal radius height. Lister's tubercle was used to guide for the correct rotation of the radial head prosthesis. Correcting the distal end fracture radial height helped us with length selection of the radial head prosthesis and address the proximally migrated radial shaft and neck. Postoperative radiographs showed an acceptable reduction. The Cooney score was 75 at 3 months postoperatively, which was equivalent to a fair functional outcome.
Accidental Falls ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; methods ; Elbow Joint ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Open Fracture Reduction ; Radius ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Radius Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Radial head excision has always been a safe commonly used surgical procedure with a satisfactory clinical outcome for isolated comminuted radial head fractures. However, diagnosis of elbow instability is still very challenging and often underestimated in routine orthopaedic evaluation. We present the case of a 21-years old female treated with excision after radial head fracture, resulting in elbow instability. The patient underwent revision surgery after four weeks. We believe that ligament reconstruction without radial head substitution is a safe alternative choice for Mason III radial head fractures accompanied by complex ligament lesions.
Adult ; Elbow Joint ; injuries ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; therapy ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; surgery ; Radius Fractures ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

INTRODUCTIONInjuries to the medial structures of the elbow due to overhead throwing games are well documented. However, variations of medial epicondyles are not well described, especially in athletes with fused medial epicondyles. In this study, we evaluated variations in the medial epicondyle of baseball players who were aged 15-17 years and had fused epicondyles.

METHODSIn this cross-sectional observational study, 155 skeletally mature baseball players with unilateral medial elbow pain and 310 elbow radiographs were reviewed by two independent reviewers. The medial epicondyles were categorised into three groups: normal, elongated or separated.

RESULTSAmong the 155 patients, 65 (41.9%) had normal epicondyles, 41 (26.5%) had elongated epicondyles and 49 (31.6%) had separated epicondyles. The medial epicondyle was larger on the dominant arm for 125 (80.6%) patients; the mean surface area on the dominant arm was 222.50 ± 45.77 mm, while that of the non-dominant arm was 189.14 ± 39.56 mm(p < 0.01). Among the three categories of medial epicondyles, separated epicondyles had the largest surface area, followed by elongated and normal epicondyles.

CONCLUSIONMedial epicondyles in adolescent throwing athletes can be categorised into three different groups according to their shape (normal, elongated and separated). We observed a correlation between the shape and the surface area of the medial epicondyle in adolescent throwing athletes, with separated medial epicondyles having the largest surface area. Further studies and follow-up are needed to determine the prognostic value and clinical significance of these morphological variations.

Adolescent ; Athletes ; Athletic Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Baseball ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Elbow ; injuries ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography

Myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC) is a kind of self-localized, benign and tumor-like lesions often seen in adults, with approximately 75% of cases caused by trauma. We reported a case of non-traumatic MOC occurred at the elbow joint in a 9-year old child and it has been excised by surgery. After 18 months follow-up, a favorable outcome has been achieved with the Broberg-Morrey score of 100. We suggest that surgical resection should be done as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed.
Arthralgia ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Biopsy, Needle ; Child ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Myositis Ossificans ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Pain Measurement ; Postoperative Care ; methods ; Range of Motion, Articular ; physiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of supinator syndrome (SD). Methods Ten patients with supinator syndrome (SD group) and 20 healthy volunteers (control group) underwent ultrasonographic examination. Axial and long-axis views of the radial nerve were taken where the nerves enters the supinator muscle entrance. The maximum transverse diameter and anteroposterior diameter were also measured. Results High-frequency ultrasound clearly revealed the images and course of radial nerve deep branch in two groups. The SD group had swollen nerves and the maximum transverse diameter and anteroposterior diameter were (3.50?0.39)mm and (4.30?0.47)mm,respectively,which were significantly larger than in the control group [(1.10?0.17)mm,t=-29.67,P=0.00;(1.00?0.16)mm,t=-36.72,P=0.00). The causes (including synovial cyst nearby and radial artery recurrent branch) of nerve entrapment were revealed directly in 4 patients in SD group. Conclusions High-frequency ultrasound can clearly display the radial nerve deep branch around the elbow joint. SD patients have swollen nerves at the entrance of the supinator muscle,where the diameters of these nerves are abnormally enlarged.
Case-Control Studies ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; diagnostic imaging ; Radial Nerve ; diagnostic imaging ; Radial Neuropathy ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

Radial head and coronoid fractures without posterior dislocation of the elbow have not been recorded in the literature. There is no literature documenting the combined fractures of the radial head, capitellum and coronoid process together in the same elbow. This is a case report highlighting this combination of fractures in a 30 year old patient treated with open reduction and internal fixation of all three fractures. The patient was followed up for 28 months and had a good range of motion of the elbow without any instability. Thus such a triad with no ligamentous injuries could depict a bony variant of terrible triad and a mechanism for such an injury has also been explained.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Elbow Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Radius Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the role of lateral collateral ligament complex on the posterolateral rotatory instability and the relationship between the radiocapitellar ratio (RCR) and the injury of lateral collateral ligament complex on X-ray images.

METHODSTwenty elbow joints from fresh-frozen adult cadavers were used to make osteo-ligamentous elbow specimens. The specimens were fixed with a self-made device to maintain posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow joint. All the specimens were divided into two groups: group A and group B. Surgical procedures were carried out as follows in the lateral structures of group A: A1, intact specimen; A2, transection of radial ulnar collateral ligament firstly; A3, transection of annular ligament secondly; A4, final transection of the radial collateral ligament. The procedures in group B were carried out as follows: B1, intact specimen; B2, transection of the radial collateral ligament firstly; B3, transection of the annular ligament secondly; B4, final transection of the radial ulnar collateral ligament. Lateral X-ray films of elbow joint were taken, and the radiocapitellar ratio (RCR) was measured by using PACS. All analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0 software.

RESULTSGroup A: the increases in RCR had statistical differences among A1, A2, A3, and A4 groups. Group B: the increases in RCR had no statistical differences among B1, B2 and B3 groups; but the increase in RCR in group B4 was more than that in B1, B2 and B3 groups.

CONCLUSIONThe radial ulnar collateral ligament is a key structure to maintain posterolateral rotatory stability;the radial collateral ligament and the annular ligament are the secondary important structures. There are 4 grades of the posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow, according to the X-ray imaging classification.

Collateral Ligaments ; injuries ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analyze therapy comparison between hinged external fixator combining with internal fixation, soft tissue repair and plaster fixation after routine surgery for terrible triad of the elbow.

METHODSFrom January 2003 to June 2011,26 patients with terrible triad of the elbow (posterior dislocation associated with fracture of both the radial head and the ulnar coronoid process) were treated respectively by unilateral hinged external fixator and plaster fixation. Fourteen patients were treated with external fixator combining with internal fixation, soft tissue repair and reconstruction, including 8 males and 6 females,ranging in age from 20 to 62 years with an average of (33.60 +/- 8.53) years. The mean time of fixation was 7.5 weeks (ranged, 6 to 8 weeks), and forearm rotation exercise was performed after the first day of operation, elbow flexion and extension activities after 4 to 6 days. Twelve patients were treated with plaster external fixation combining with open reduction and internal fixation,including 8 males and 4 females,ranging in age from 21 to 63 years with an average of (34.80 +/- 7.41) years. The mean time of plaster fixation was 30.4 days, and functional exercise was carried out after 4 to 6 weeks of plaster removal. JOA assessment score were used to evaluate the elbow joint function.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 36 months,with an average of 18.6 months. The mean time of fracture healing was (8.6 +/- 3.1) weeks in plaster group and (9.0 +/- 2.7) weeks in fixator group, with no statistical difference between the two groups (t =1.47, P > 0.05). The function and are of motion in plaster group and fixator group showed significant difference. While the pain, articular instability and deformity showed no statistical difference. The total assessment score between two groups indicated markedly difference (t = -2.66, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHinged external fixator can enhance lateral stability of elbows,benefit the reduction of fracture dislocation, guarantee early and safe functional exercise, prevent elbow stiffness, and reduce heterotopic ossification. In treating terrible triad of the elbow, the hinged external fixator is superior to other therapies with respect of improving the function of elbow joint.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDConventional ultrasonography or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is commonly performed to obtain information about the severity of the disease, location of the injury, and differential diagnosis. The aim of this research was to investigate the diagnostic confidence of sonoelastography as an adjunct to greyscale ultrasonography in lateral elbow tendinopathy.

METHODSA single experienced physiatrist performed greyscale ultrasonography and sonoelastography in 28 patients (9 men, 19 women; mean age, 48.5 years; age range, 36-67 years) with unilateral symptoms of lateral elbow tendinopathy; the asymptomatic elbows were used as controls. Greyscale images were described as normal, tendinosis, partial-thickness tear, and full-thickness tear. Sonoelastographic images of the common extensor tendon were analyzed qualitatively (scoring of the elastic spectrum) and quantitatively (based on a color histogram).

RESULTSBoth the imaging methods had high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for diagnosing lateral elbow tendinopathy. Considering the clinical diagnosis of lateral elbow tendinopathy, sonoelastography showed significantly higher diagnostic accuracy (96.4%) than ultrasonography (89.5%, P < 0.01). Quantitative analysis showed objective interpretation of the sonoelastographic images that revealed greater intensity of green and blue pixels in symptomatic elbows (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSonoelastography increases diagnostic confidence in tennis elbow pathology over greyscale ultrasonography alone and may be an additional powerful diagnostic tool in cases of lateral elbow tendinopathy with inconclusive greyscale ultrasonographic findings.

Adult ; Aged ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; methods ; Elbow ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tendinopathy ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tendons ; pathology ; Tennis Elbow ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging

T-condylar fracture is rare in paediatric age group, especially in skeletally immature children less than 9 years old, with very few cases reported in available literature. We present such a case in a 5 year old child that was initially managed as a supracondylar fracture at another centre before referral to us, 10 days after the injury. The child was diagnosed as having a displaced T-condylar fracture on plain radiograph. Open reduction and internal fixation with K-wires was performed. At 2 years follow-up, the child had good range of motion at elbow with 5°of cubitus varus. With this background we discuss the pertinent principles of management of T-condylar fractures in skele-tally immature children.
Child, Preschool ; Elbow Joint ; injuries ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Radiography ; Time Factors