What are the 4 routine views of the elbow?
- AP
- Lateral
- AP Oblique, IR
- AP Oblique, ER
How is the patient oriented in relation to the image receptor for elbow AP?
- Arm lays supinated so olecranon rests on image receptor
- Shoulder flexed 90 degrees from anatomic position
How is the patient oriented in relation to the image receptor for elbow lateral?
- Shoulder abducted, and arm’s medial surface resting on the image receptor
- Elbow flexed 90 degrees
How is the patient positioned for AP Oblique IR?
- Shoulder abducted 90 degrees
- Arm rests on receptor
- Forearm pronated so that palm faces table
How is the patient positioned for AP Oblique ER?
- Shoulder abducted 90 degrees
- Forearm supinated so knuckles are resting on surface
What are the routine views of the forearm?
- AP
- Lateral
How is the patient positioned for forearn AP?
- Shoulder flexed 90 degrees
- Forearm supinated so that knucles rest on surface
How is the patient positioned for forearm lateral?
- Elbow flexed 90 degrees
- Forearm in neutral position
- Thumb abudcted slightly (relaxed)
What are the 6 fractures of the distal humerus?
- Supracondylar
- Transcondylar
- Intracondylar (T or Y)
- Condylar
- Intra-articular
- Epicondylar
What is a supracondylar fracture of the humerus?
Fractures above the condyles.
What is a transcondylar fracture of the humerus?
Fractured transversely through the condyles.
What is a intracondylar fracture of the humerus?
Fractured transversely through condyles, but also distally through trochlea.
What is a condylar fracture of the humerus?
Longitudinal fracture through the condyles.
What is an intra-articular fracture of the humerus?
Through the trochlea.
What is an epicondylar fracture of the humerus?
Longitudinal fracture through the epicondyles.
What are the lines for alignment used to asses humeral fractures?
- Elbow lateral view (must be 90 degrees)
- Line through anterior humerus
- Line through middle of the shaft of the radius
- If both pass through the mid 1/3 of the capitulum, then there are no fractures.
How are fractures assessed in the elbow using fat pads?
- elbow lateral view
- In a normal radiograph the anterior fat pads make up a small, thin triangular darkened area directly anterior to the fossa at the distal humerus
- The posterior pads are usually deep in the olecranon fossa, and not visible at all on a lateral radiograph
- Displace of the fat pads indicates effusion of the joint capsule, and possible fracture with inflammation
