ArticleArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2022
The inter-individual anatomical variation of the trochlear notch as a predisposition for simple elbow dislocation.
Article in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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6 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence and imaging characteristics of the transverse trochlear ridge on elbow MRI and radiographs in youths.Skeletal radiology · 2026Article
- Greater sigmoid notch sling technique for recurrent elbow instability with greater sigmoid notch dysplasia.JSES reviews, reports, and techniques · 2026Article
- Chaos theory modeling improves olecranodiaphyseal angle prediction from proximal ulnar dorsal angulation in healthy elbows.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The Role of the Critical Coronoid Angle in Simple Elbow Dislocation: A Computed Tomography-Based Index to Stratify Elbow Dislocation Risk.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Morphometrics of the coronoid process and the radial notch of the ulna: implications for fracture assessment.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2023Article
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6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
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Abstract
purposeBesides the multi-layered capsule-ligamentous complex of the elbow joint the high bony congruence in the ulnohumeral joint contributes to elbow stability. Therefore, we assume that specific anatomical configurations of the trochlear notch predispose to dislocation. In case of ligamentous elbow dislocation both conservative and surgical treatment is possible without a clear treatment algorithm. Findings of constitutional bony configurations could help deciding for the best treatment option.
methodsIn this retrospective matched-pair analysis we compared MRI imaging from patients sustaining a primary traumatic elbow dislocation (instability group) with patients suffering from chronic lateral epicondylitis (control group), treated between 2009 and 2019. Two independent observers measured different anatomical landmarks of the trochlear notch in a multiplanar reconstructed standardized sagittal trochlear plane (SSTP). Primarily, opening angle and relative depth of the trochlear notch were determined. After adjustment to the proximal ulnar rim in the SSTP, coronoid and olecranon angle, the articular angle as well as the ratio of the tip heights of the trochlear notch were measured.
resultsWe compared 34 patients in the instability group (age 48 ± 14 years, f/m 19/15) with 34 patients in the control group (age 47 ± 16 years, f/m 19/15). Instability group showed a significantly larger opening angle (94.1° ± 6.9° vs. 88.5° ± 6.9°, p = 0.0002), olecranon angle (60.9° ± 5.3° vs. 56.1° ± 5.1°, p < 0.0001) and articular angle (24.7° ± 6.4° vs. 22.3° ± 5.8°, p = 0.02) compared to the control group. Measuring the height from the coronoid (ch) and olecranon (oh) tip also revealed a significantly larger tip ratio (tr = ch/oh) in the instability group (2.7 ± 0.8 vs. 2.2 ± 0.5, p < 0.0001). The relative depth (61.0% ± 8.3% vs. 62.7% ± 6.0%, p = 0.21) of the trochlear notch as well as the coronoid angle (32.8° ± 4.5° vs. 31.7° ± 5.2°, p = 0.30) showed no significant difference in the instability group compared to the control group. The interrater reliability of all measurements was between 0.83 and 0.94.
conclusionMRI of patients with elbow dislocation show that there seems to be a bony anatomical predisposition. According to the results, it seems reasonable to include predisposing bony factors in the decision-making process when surgical stabilization and conservative treatment is possible. Further biomechanical studies should prove these assumptions to generate critical bony values helping surgeons with decision making. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
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