Multi-modal imaging of elbow trauma injuries and its sequelae in adult patients

Congress:

ESSR 2017

Poster Number:

P-0152

Type:

Scientific Poster

Keywords:

Musculoskeletal bone, Trauma, Conventional radiography, CT, MR, Complications, Cost-effectiveness, Acute

Authors:

L. Cristiano¹, A. Bartoloni¹, G. Fioroni², G. Manfredonia³, G. Argento¹; ¹Rome/IT, ²Scandriglia/IT, ³Fondi/IT

DOI:

10.1594/essr2017/P-0152

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/essr2017/P-0152

$Fig. 1: X-RAY showing bicondylar comminuted fracture of the elbow (C2 of the AO/OTA classification)$

Fig. 1: X-RAY showing bicondylar comminuted fracture of the elbow (C2 of the...

$Fig. 2: X-RAY showing bicondylar multifragmentary fracture of the elbow (C3 of the AO/ OTA classification)$

Fig. 2: X-RAY showing bicondylar multifragmentary fracture of the elbow (C3 of the...

$Fig. 3: AP X-RAY showing Maison II radial head fracture$

Fig. 3: AP X-RAY showing Maison II radial head fracture

$Fig. 4: Lateral X-RAY showing Maison II radial head fracture$

Fig. 4: Lateral X-RAY showing Maison II radial head fracture

Purpose

The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of cross-sectional imaging medalities inorder to study elbow trauma in adults patients and its complications before surgery.

Methods and Materials

From January 2016 to February 2017 we studied 46 Patients, 25 women and 21 men,between 18 and 84 years old. All patients had had an elbow trauma, and were all tested at first with conventional X-ray and then they underwent CT examination before and after elbowsurgery. Subsequently some of them were studied with post-surgical Gd -MRI (both intravenousand intra-articular).

Results

Humeral capitulum fracture was found in 27 patients, 12 of whom had an intra-articularfracture. 14 of the 27 patients also had a concomitant infraction of the radial head, while 6 patientsalso reported a fracture of the ulnar coronoid process. The remaining 5 patients had an olecranon fracture. After surgery CT evaluation showed an arthritic joint degeneration in 32 patients and abad stump consolidation in 7 patients.

Conclusion

X-ray can be considered the basic imaging technique in patients with an elbow trauma,and it's often sufficient to show elbow fracture. Pre-Surgical CT is necessary when we suspect a bone lesion or a free intra-articularfragment. Post-surgical CT is very useful to evaluate stump fracture consolidation. Gd-MRI is very important to study elbow instability and in particular ligament joint injuries. The role of CT appears absolutely primary in elbow trauma expecially for its ability toecognize thin fracture lines, free intra-articular bone fragments and for the ability...