Elbow

Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury

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Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury, Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury, Elbow UCL Injury, UCL Injury, Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Sprain, Elbow MCL Injury, Elbow Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

  • See Also
  1. Elbow Pain
  2. Elbow Moving Valgus Stress Test
  3. Elbow Milking Maneuver
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Injury typically occurs with overhead throwing (e.g. baseball, volleyball)
  • Symptoms
  1. Pop heard and felt at the medial elbow with provocative activity (e.g. overhead throwing)
  2. Immediate pain and Ecchymosis over the medial elbow
  • Signs
  1. See Elbow Moving Valgus Stress Test
  2. See Elbow Milking Maneuver
  3. Medial joint line tenderness
    1. Palpate over the ulnar collateral ligament
    2. Efficacy
      1. Test Sensitivity: >81%
      2. Test Specificity: 22%
  4. Medial joint line instability
    1. Laxity on elbow valgus stress
    2. Joint space opens more than 3 mm without firm endpoint
    3. Compare to opposite elbow
  • Management
  1. Initial approach
    1. RICE-M
    2. NSAIDs
    3. Consider sling
  2. Rehabilitation Exercise indications
    1. Grade 1-2 partial UCL tears
  3. Surgery indications
    1. High level athletes
    2. Complete UCL tears
  • Complications
  1. Valgus elbow instability
  • References
  1. Hariri (2010) Clin Sports Med 29(4): 619-44 [PubMed]
  2. Kane (2014) Am Fam Physician 89(8): 649-57 [PubMed]