Abstract
Background: Terrible triad complex elbow fracture-dislocations are represented by elbow dislocations associated with fractures of the coronoid and radial head. Published literature has focused on classifying coronoid fractures by their radiographic morphology on plain x-ray images and computed tomography imaging. No study has specifically related native coronoid osteology to in situ fracture morphology. We identified 3 distinct bony regions of the coronoid, (medial, intermediate, and lateral ridges) with correlation to common fracture patterns associated with terrible triad injuries. Methods: Coronoid osteology in 8 fresh frozen cadaveric elbows was examined, and three distinct ridges were identified and dimensions measured. Results: The measurements were compared with retrospective intraoperative measurements taken of coronoid fracture fragments being stabilized during terrible triad injury repair. Conclusion: Classification of native coronoid process anatomy into functional ridges (medial, intermediate, lateral) may improve our understanding of coronoid fracture patterns in unstable terrible triad injuries.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 323-328 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2013 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright:Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Anatomic study
- Basic science
- Cadaver and in vivo
- Complex elbow instability
- Coronoid anatomy
- Coronoid fracture
- Elbow fractures
- Terrible triad