Download PDF
Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2021; 25(04): 628-636
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731333
Review Article

Imaging the Postoperative Elbow

Diane M. Deely
1   Division of General and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
,
William B. Morrison 
1   Division of General and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Evaluation of postoperative images of any joint can be a daunting task, and the elbow is no exception. Patients may be imaged with a complication of the repair, or the postoperative changes may be incidentally observed as the patient is imaged for other reasons. We divide the postoperative elbow into soft tissue procedures (covering ligament and tendon repairs, as well as compartmental release and nerve transposition), joint-related procedures (osteochondral lesion treatment, ostectomy, and joint replacement), and bone procedures (fracture fixation). We summarize the procedures and their indications, show normal imaging appearances, and finally cover common complications.

Keywords

elbow - postoperative - repair - surgical - magnetic resonance imaging


Publication History

Article published online:
27 October 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 Meyers A, Palmer B, Baratz ME. Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. Hand Clin 2008; 24 (01) 53-67
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Safran MR. Ulnar collateral ligament injury in the overhead athlete: diagnosis and treatment. Clin Sports Med 2004; 23 (04) 643-663 , x
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Cain Jr EL, Ochsner III MG. Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. Clin Sports Med 2020; 39 (03) 523-536
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Carr II JB, Camp CL, Dines JS. Elbow ulnar collateral ligament injuries: indications, management, and outcomes. Arthroscopy 2020; 36 (05) 1221-1222
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Daniels SP, Mintz DN, Endo Y, Dines JS, Sneag DB. Imaging of the post-operative medial elbow in the overhead thrower: common and abnormal findings after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction and ulnar nerve transposition. Skeletal Radiol 2019; 48 (12) 1843-1860
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 O'Brien MJ, Savoie III FH. Arthroscopic and open management of posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 2014; 22 (03) 194-200
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Singleton SB, Conway JE. PLRI: posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow. Clin Sports Med 2004; 23 (04) 629-642 , ix–x
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Alrabaa RG, Sonnenfeld J, Trofa D, Ahmad C. Elbow common flexor tendon repair technique. Arthrosc Tech 2019; 8 (11) e1367-e1371
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Kim GM, Yoo SJ, Choi S, Park YG. Current trends for treating lateral epicondylitis. Clin Shoulder Elbow 2019; 22 (04) 227-234
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Jeon JY, Lee MH, Jeon IH, Chung HW, Lee SH, Shin MJ. Lateral epicondylitis: associations of MR imaging and clinical assessments with treatment options in patients receiving conservative and arthroscopic managements. Eur Radiol 2018; 28 (03) 972-981
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Keener JD, Sethi PM. Distal triceps tendon injuries. Hand Clin 2015; 31 (04) 641-650
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Quach T, Jazayeri R, Sherman OH, Rosen JE. Distal biceps tendon injuries—current treatment options. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis 2010; 68 (02) 103-111
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Silva J, Eskander MS, Lareau C, DeAngelis NA. Treatment of distal biceps tendon ruptures using a single-incision technique and a Bio-Tenodesis screw. Orthopedics 2010; 33 (07) 477
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Heinzelmann AD, Savoie III FH, Ramsey JR, Field LD, Mazzocca AD. A combined technique for distal biceps repair using a soft tissue button and Bio-Tenodesis interference screw. Am J Sports Med 2009; 37 (05) 989-994
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Nguyen ML, Rosenthal J, Karas S. et al. A comprehensive review of the normal, abnormal, and post-operative MRI appearance of the distal biceps brachii. Skeletal Radiol 2020; 49 (11) 1695-1707
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Dekelver I, Van Glabbeek F, Dijs H, Stassijns G. Bilateral ulnar nerve entrapment by the M. anconeus epitrochlearis. A case report and literature review. Clin Rheumatol 2012; 31 (07) 1139-1142
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Rhodes NG, Howe BM, Frick MA, Moran SL. MR imaging of the postsurgical cubital tunnel: an imaging review of the cubital tunnel, cubital tunnel syndrome, and associated surgical techniques. Skeletal Radiol 2019; 48 (10) 1541-1554
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Chadwick N, Morag Y, Smith BW, Yablon C, Kim SM, Yang LJ. Imaging appearance following surgical decompression of the ulnar nerve. Br J Radiol 2019; 92 (1094): 20180757
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Dinh PT, Gupta R. Subtotal medial epicondylectomy as a surgical option for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg 2005; 9 (01) 52-59
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Andrews K, Rowland A, Pranjal A, Ebraheim N. Cubital tunnel syndrome: anatomy, clinical presentation, and management. J Orthop 2018; 15 (03) 832-836
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Yahya A, Malarkey AR, Eschbaugh RL, Bamberger HB. Trends in the surgical treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome: a survey of members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Hand (N Y) 2018; 13 (05) 516-521
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Naam NH, Nemani S. Radial tunnel syndrome. Orthop Clin North Am 2012; 43 (04) 529-536
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Zbojniewicz AM, Laor T. Imaging of osteochondritis dissecans. Clin Sports Med 2014; 33 (02) 221-250
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Smith MV, Bedi A, Chen NC. Surgical treatment for osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum. Sports Health 2012; 4 (05) 425-432
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Allahabadi S, Bryant JK, Mittal A, Pandya NK. Outcomes of arthroscopic surgical treatment of osteochondral lesions of the elbow in pediatric and adolescent athletes. Orthop J Sports Med 2020; 8 (11) 2325967120963054
    Google Scholar
  • 26 Bae DS, Ingall EM, Miller PE, Eisenberg K. Early results of single-plug autologous osteochondral grafting for osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum in adolescents. J Pediatr Orthop 2020; 40 (02) 78-85
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Chaijenkij K, Arirachakaran A, Kongtharvonskul J. Clinical outcomes after internal fixation, arthroplasty and resection for treatment of comminuted radial head fractures: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Musculoskelet Surg 2021; 105 (01) 17-29
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Hildebrand AH, Zhang B, Horner NS, King G, Khan M, Alolabi B. Indications and outcomes of radial head excision: A systematic review. Shoulder Elbow 2020; 12 (03) 193-202
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 van Riet RP, van den Bekerom M, Van Tongel A, Spross C, Barco R, Watts AC. Radial head fractures. Shoulder Elbow 2020; 12 (03) 212-223
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Davey MS, Hurley ET, Gaafar M, Molony D, Mullett H, Pauzenberger L. Long-term outcomes of total elbow arthroplasty: a systematic review of studies at 10-year follow-up. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2021; 30 (06) 1423-1430
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar