Abstract
Part I of this comprehensive review on magnetic resonance imaging of the elbow discusses normal elbow anatomy and the technical factors involved in obtaining high-quality magnetic resonance images of the elbow. Part I also discusses the role of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating patients with osseous abnormalities of the elbow. With proper patient positioning and imaging technique, magnetic resonance imaging can yield high-quality multiplanar images which are useful in evaluating the osseous structures of the elbow. Magnetic resonance imaging can detect early osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum and can be used to evaluate the size, location, stability, and viability of the osteochondritis dissecans fragment. Magnetic resonance imaging can detect early stress injury to the proximal ulna in athletes. Magnetic resonance imaging can detect radiographically occult fractures of the elbow in both children and adults. Magnetic resonance imaging is also useful in children to further evaluate elbow fractures which are detected on plain-film radiographs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Morrey B. Anatomy of the elbow joint. In: Morrey B (ed) The elbow and its disorders. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1993:16–52.
Morrey B. Complex instability of the elbow. AAOS Instruct Course Lect 47:157–164, 1993.
Morrey B, An K. Articular and ligamentous contributions to the stability of the elbow joint. Am J Sports Med 1983; 11:315–319.
Cotton A, Jacobson J, Brossman J, Hodler J, Trudell D, Resnick D. MR arthrography of the elbow: normal anatomy and diagnostic pitfalls. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1997; 21:516–522.
Floris S, Olsen B, Balstra M, Sojberg J, Sneppen O. The medial collateral ligament of the elbow joint. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1998; 7:345–351.
Callaway G, Field L, Deng X et al. Biomechanical evaluation of the medial collateral ligament of the elbow. J Bone Joint Surg 1997; 79A:1223–1231.
Hotchkiss R, Weiland A. Valgus stability of the elbow. J Orthop Res 1987; 5:372–377.
Morrey B, An K. Functional anatomy of the ligaments of the elbow. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1985; 201:84–90.
Regan W, Korinek S, Morrey B et al. Biomechanical study of the ligaments of the elbow joint. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1991; 271:170–179.
Schab G, Bennett J, Woods G et al. Biomechanics of elbow instability: the medial collateral ligament. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1980; 146:42–52.
Sojbjerg J, Ovesen J, Nielsen S. Experimental elbow instability after transaction of the medial collateral ligament. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1987; 218:186–190.
Cohen M, Hasting H. Rotatory instability of the elbow. J Bone Joint Surg 1997; 79A:225–235.
Olsen B, Vaeesel M, Sojbjerg J et al. Lateral collateral ligament of the elbow joint. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1996; 5:103–112.
Imatani J, Ogura T, Morito Y et al. Anatomic and histologic studies of the lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow joint. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1999; 8:625–627.
Basmajian J, Griffin W. Function of the anconeus muscle: an electromyographic study. J Bone Joint Surg 1972; 54A:1712–1719.
Dellon A. Musculotendonous variations about the medial humeral epicondyle. J Hand Surg 1986; 11B:175–181.
Davidson P, Pink M, Perry J, Jobe F. Functional anatomy of the flexor pronator muscle group in relation to the medial collateral ligament of the elbow. Am J Sports Med 1995; 23:245–256.
Spinner M. The arcade of Frohse and its relationship to posterior interosseous nerve paralysis. J Bone Joint Surg 1968; 50B:809–812.
O’Driscoll S, Horii E, Carmichael S, Morrey B. The cubital tunnel and ulnar neuropathy. J Bone Joint Surg 1991; 73B:613–617.
Cotton A, Jacobson J, Brossmann J, Pedowitz R, Trudell, Resnick D. Collateral ligaments of the elbow: conventional MR imaging and MR arthrography with coronal oblique plane and elbow flexion. Radiology 1997; 204:806–812.
Desharnais L, Kaplan P, Dussault. MR imaging of ligamentous abnormalities of the elbow. MRI Clin North Am 1997; 5:515–527.
Herzog R. Magnetic resonance imaging of the elbow. Magn Reson Q 1993; 9:88–210.
Sofka C, Pollis H. Imaging of elbow injuries in the child and adult athlete. Radiol Clin North Am 2000; 40:251–265.
Schwartz ML. Collateral ligaments. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 1998; 2:155–161.
Thornton R, Riley G, Steinbach L. Magnetic resonance imaging of sports injuries of the elbow. Top Magn Reson Imaging 2003; 14:69–86.
Sonin A, Tutton S, Fitzgerald S, Peduto A. MR imaging of the adult elbow. Radiographics 1996; 16:1323–1336.
Ho C. MR imaging of tendon injuries in the elbow. MRI Clin North Am 1997; 5:529–543.
Steinbach L, Schwartz M. Elbow arthrography. Radiol Clin North Am 1998; 36:635–649.
Omer G. Primary articular osteochondroses. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1981; 158:33–40.
Brown R, Blazina M, Kerlan R, Carter V, Jobe F. Osteochondritis of the capitellum. J Sports Med 1974; 2:27–46.
Jobe F, Nuber G. Throwing injuries of the elbow. Clin Sports Med 1986; 5:621–636.
Mitsunaga M, Adishian D, Bianco A. Osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum. J Trauma 1982; 22:53–55.
Tullos, H, Erwin W, Woods G, Wukasch D, Cooley D. Unusual lesions of the pitching arm. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1972; 88:169–182.
Woodward AH, Bianco AJ Jr. Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1975; 110:35–41.
Jackson D, Silvino N, Reimen P. Osteochondritis in the female gymnast’s elbow. Arthroscopy 1989; 5:129–136.
Haraldsson S. On osteochondrosis defoemans juvenilis capituli humeri including investigation of intraosseous vasculature in the distal humerus. Acta Orthop Scand (Suppl) 1959; 38:1.
Gardiner J. Osteochondritis dissecans in three members of one family. J Bone Joint Surg 1955; 37B:139–143
Paes R. Familial osteochondritis dissecans. Clin Radiol 1989; 40:501–507.
Bednarz P, Paletta G, Stanitski C. Bilateral osteochondritis dissecans of the knee and elbow. Orthopaedics 1998; 21:716–717.
Trias A, Ray R. Juvenile osteochondritis of the radial head: report of bilateral cases. J Bone Joint Surg 1963; 45A:576–582.
Schenck R, Athanasiou K, Constantinides G, Domez E. A biomechanical analysis of articular cartilage of the elbow and a potential relationship to osteochondritis dissecans. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1994; 299:305–312.
Vanthournout I, Rudelli A, Valenti P. Osteochondritis dissecans of the trochlea of the humerus. Pediatr Radiol 1991; 21:600–601.
Takahara M, Ogino T, Takagi M, Tsuchida H, Orui H, Nambu T. The natural progression of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum. Radiology 2000; 216:207–212.
Takahara M, Shundo M, Kondo M, Suzuki K, Nambu T, Ogino T. Early detection of osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum in young baseball players. J Bone Joint Surg 1998; 80:892–897.
Bowen R, Otsuku N, Yoon S, lang P. Osteochondral lesions of the capitellum in pediatric patients: role of magnetic resonance imaging. J Pediatr Orthop 2001; 21:298–301.
Rosenberg Z, Beltran J, Cheung Y. Pseudodefect of the capitellum: potential MR imaging pitfall. Musculoskelet Radiol 1994; 191:821–823.
Takahara M, Ogino T, Fukushima S, Tsuchida H, Kaneda K. Nonoperative treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellu. Am J Sports Med 1999; 27:728–732.
Bradley J, Petrie R. Osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum. Clin Sports Med 2001; 20:565–590.
De Smet AA, Ilahi O, Graf B. Reassessment of the MR criteria for the stability of osteochondritis dissecans in the knee and ankle. Skeletal Radiol 1996; 25:159–163.
De Smet A, Fisher D, Burnstein M, Graf B, Lang R. Value of MR imaging in staging osteochondral lesions of the talus. Am J Roentgenol 1990; 154:555–559.
Peiss J, Adams G, Casser R, Urhahn R, Gunther R. Gadopentate-dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging of osteonecrosis and osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow: initial experience. Skeletal Radiol 1995; 24:17–20.
Kramer J, Stiglbauer R, Engel A. MR contrast in osteochondritis dissecans. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1992; 16:254–260.
McManama G, Michelli L, Berry M. Surgical treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum. Am J Sports Med 1985; 13:11–21.
Bradley J, Dandy D. Results of drilling osteochondritis before before skeletal maturity. J Bone Joint Surg 1989; 71B:642–644.
Cugat R, Garua M, Cuscuo. Osteochondritis dissecans: a historical review and its treatment with cannulated screws. Arthroscopy 1993; 9:675–684.
Takahara M, Ogino T, Sasaki I. Long term outcome of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1999; 363:108–115.
Bauer M, Honsson K, Hosefsson P. Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow: a long term follow up study. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1992; 284:156–160.
Schickendantz M, Ho C, Koh J. Stress injury of the proximal ulna in professional baseball players. Am J Sports Med 2002; 30:737–741.
Nuber G, Diment M. Olecranon stress fractures in throwers. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1992; 278:58–61.
Hulkko A, Orava S, Nikula P. Stess fractures of the olecranon in javelin throwers. Int J Sports Med 1986; 7:210–215.
Griffith J, Roebuck D, Cheng J, Chan Y, Rainer T, Ng B, Metreweli C. Acute elbow trauma in children: spectrum of injury revealed by MR imaging not apparent on radiographs. Am J Roentgenol 2001; 176:53–60.
Major N, Crawford S. Elbow effusions in trauma in adults and children: Is there an occult fracture? Am J Roentgenol 2002; 178:413–418.
Burns P, Hunt J, King C, Brooks P. MR imaging of acute trauma of the elbow. Am J Roentgenol 2002; 179:1076–1077.
Donnelly L. Traumatic elbow joint effusions in children are not synonymous with occult fracture — even with evaluation by MR imaging. Am J Roentgenol 2002; 179:531–532.
Rockwood C, Wilkins K, King R. Fractures in children, 3rd edn. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1991:509–528.
Beltran J, Rosenberg Z, Kawelblum M, Montes L, Bergman A, Strongwater A. Pediatric elbow fractures: MRI evaluation. Skeletal Radiol 1994; 23:277–281.
Anderson SE, Otsuka N, Steinbach L. MR imaging of pediatric elbow trauma. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 1998; 2:185–198.
Rutherford A. Fracture of the lateral humeral condyle in children. J Bone Joint Surg 1985; 67A:851–855
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Part II of this review can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00256-004-0854-y
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kijowski, R., Tuite, M. & Sanford, M. Magnetic resonance imaging of the elbow. Part I: Normal anatomy, imaging technique, and osseous abnormalities. Skeletal Radiol 33, 685–697 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-004-0853-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-004-0853-z