This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Multiple mechanism-related soft tissue injury patterns found in simple elbow dislocations
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Simple elbow dislocations had no single mechanism-related soft tissue injury pattern, with different grades of soft tissue injury identified, according to published results.
Researchers had two musculoskeletal radiologists assess initial X-ray images and MRIs performed in 17 patients with simple elbow dislocations. Radiologists evaluated the medial collateral ligament complex, flexor-pronator muscle mass origin, anterior capsule, posterior capsule, lateral collateral ligament complex and extensor muscle mass origin.
Results showed 12 posterolateral, three posterior and one posteromedial dislocations in 16 patients. Researchers found complete tears of the anterior capsule, medial collateral ligament complex and lateral collateral ligament complex in 12, 11 and nine patients, respectively. Researchers also noted complete rupture of the common flexor origin or posterior capsule in two patients, and one patient presented with common extensor muscle mass origin and posterior capsule tears, as well as complete tears of the medial and lateral collateral ligament complex.
Among patients who experienced posterolateral dislocations, the frequency of injury seemed to be higher on the medial collateral ligament complex vs. the lateral collateral ligament complex, according to results. Researchers noted a higher prevalence of medial collateral ligament complex injuries in the posterolateral dislocation group compared with the posterior/perched dislocation group. Results showed an inter-rater reliability for the radiologists of 0.70 for MRI.
“The present study suggests that there is more than one pattern of soft tissue injury,” the authors wrote. “This variation is likely to be dependent on the direction of forces applied in the time of dislocation, the position of the limb and hand at the point of contact and variations in the tissue laxity of the patient.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Luokkala reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts