Radiology of acute elbow injuries

Abstract

Elbow injuries are common and usually result from a fall onto an outstretched hand. Plain radiograph is the main modality used in the initial evaluation of these injuries. Clinical assessment can often be limited, especially in children who may be unable to communicate specific complaints and are sometimes difficult to examine reliably. Equally, interpretation of these radiographs is a daunting task as there are multiple ossification centres and normal variations. Therefore a good understanding of normal anatomy and common injury patterns is essential in evaluating elbow radiographs in the acute setting. This article reviews basic developmental anatomy, classical radiological signs and common elbow injuries.