Elbow

Elbow Posterolateral Fracture Dislocation

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Elbow Posterolateral Fracture Dislocation, Terrible Triad of the Elbow

  • See Also
  1. Elbow Dislocation
  2. Radial Head Fracture
  3. Coronoid Process Fracture
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Terrible Triad of the Elbow (Unstable)
    1. Posterior Elbow Dislocation AND
    2. Radial Head Fracture AND
    3. Coronoid Process Fracture
  2. Associated injuries (responsible for instability)
    1. Joint capsule injury
    2. Lateral collateral ligament tear
  3. Mechanism
    1. Fall on Outstretched Hand
    2. Other contibuting factors
      1. Axial load
      2. Valgus stress
      3. Posterolateral rotation
  • Symptoms
  1. Elbow Pain
  2. Clicking
  3. Swelling
  4. Decreased elbow range of motion
  • Signs
  1. Unstable elbow on reduction (varus and valgus)
  2. Other associated injuries
    1. Ulnar Nerve injury (unable to abduct fingers)
    2. Distal radioulnar joint dislocation
  • Exam
  1. See Elbow Exam
  2. See Hand Neurovascular Exam
  • Imaging
  1. Elbow XRay
    1. First-line study which is typically sufficient for diagnosis
  2. Wrist or ForearmXRay
    1. Consider if associated distal injury is suspected
  3. CT Elbow
    1. May be indicated for surgical planning
  • Management
  1. Elbow closed reduction
    1. See Elbow Dislocation
    2. Performed under Procedural Sedation
    3. Apply posterior Long Arm Splint
    4. Obtain post-reduction xrays
  2. Operative management
    1. Most patients will undergo surgical repair (e.g. radial head arthroplasty, coronoid repair, ligament repair)
  • Complications
  1. Chronic elbow instability
  2. Post-Traumatic Arthritis
  • References
  1. Kiel (2021) Crit Dec Emerg Med 35(9): 16-7