ArticleWorld journal of orthopedics2018
Snapping elbow-A guide to diagnosis and treatment.
Article in World journal of orthopedics, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Hearing and Seeing Nerve/Tendon Snapping: A Systematic Review on Dynamic Ultrasound Examination.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Pooled it
- Lateral Snapping Elbow Caused by Entrapment of the Degenerative Annular Ligament: A Case Series.Clinics in orthopedic surgery · 2026Article
- Unilateral Ulnar Nerve Instability After Bilateral Surgical Transposition of the Medial Triceps and Ulnar Nerve.Case reports in orthopedics · 2026Article
- High-Resolution Ultrasound of Clinically Relevant Sensory Nerves of the Arm and the Forearm.Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine · 2025Review
- A Report of a Rare Case of Meniscus in the Humeroradial Joint Causing Elbow Snapping, Treated Arthroscopically.Cureus · 2025Article
- Review
- All-Arthroscopic Ulnar Nerve Release and Subcutaneous Transposition.Arthroscopy techniques · 2025Article
- Bilateral snapping triceps syndrome: A case report.World journal of clinical cases · 2023Article
- Dynamic sonographic diagnosis of snapping elbow associated with congenital radioulnar synostosis.JSES reviews, reports, and techniques · 2023Article
- Symptomatic Unilateral Triceps Medial Head Snapping and Subluxating Ulnar Nerve without Neuropathy after Push-Ups: A Case Report.Malaysian orthopaedic journal · 2022Article
- Synovial plica of the elbow and its clinical relevance.EFORT open reviews · 2020Review
- Snapping of the annular ligament: a uncommon injury characterised by snapping or locking of the elbow with good surgical outcomes.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimTo develop practical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of the painful snapping elbow syndrome (SE).
methodsClinical studies were searched in the databases PubMed and Scopus for the phrases "SE", "snapping triceps", "snapping ulnar nerve" and "snapping annular ligament". A total of 36 relevant studies were identified. From these we extracted information about number of patients, diagnostic methods, patho-anatomical findings, treatments and outcomes. Practical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of SE were developed based on analysis of the data. We present two illustrative patient cases-one with intra-articular pathology and one with extra-articular pathology.
resultsSnapping is audible, palpable and often visible. It has a lateral (intra-articular) or medial (extra-articular) pathology. Snapping over the medial humeral epicondyle is caused by dislocation of the ulnar nerve or a part of the triceps tendon, and is demonstrated by dynamic ultrasonography. Treatment is by open surgery. Lateral snapping over the radial head has an intra-articular pathology: A synovial plica, a torn annular ligament or a meniscus-like remnant from the foetal elbow. Pathology can be visualized by conventional arthrography, magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography, high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy, while conventional MRI and radiographs often turn out normal. Treatment is by arthroscopic or eventual open resection. Early surgical intervention is recommended as the snapping can damage the ulnar nerve (medial) or the intra-articular cartilage (lateral). If medial snapping only occurs during repeated or loaded extension/flexion of the elbow (in sports or work) it may be treated by reduction of these activities. Differential diagnoses are loose bodies (which can be visualized by radiographs) and postero-lateral instability (demonstrates by clinical examination). An algorithm for diagnosis and treatment is suggested.
conclusionThe primary step is establishment of laterality. From this follows relevant diagnostic measures and treatment as defined in this guideline.
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