Arthroscopic Treatment of Annular Drive Through and Radial Lateral Collateral Ligament Articular-Side Tear of the Elbow

An elongation or partial articular-sided tear of the radial lateral collateral ligament (R-LCL) is a rare injury causing disability and instability of the elbow. In our experience this condition is often associated with a pathologic sign of the annular ligament named the “annular drive through” caus...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paolo Arrigoni, M.D., Riccardo D’Ambrosi, M.D., Pietro Randelli, M.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2015-12-01
Series:Arthroscopy Techniques
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221262871500095X
Description
Summary:An elongation or partial articular-sided tear of the radial lateral collateral ligament (R-LCL) is a rare injury causing disability and instability of the elbow. In our experience this condition is often associated with a pathologic sign of the annular ligament named the “annular drive through” caused by a redundancy of the ligament. The benefits of performing an arthroscopic procedure for surgical stabilization of the R-LCL include smaller incisions with less soft-tissue dissection, better visualization of the joint, better repair accessibility, and elimination of the annular drive-through sign. The main steps of the operation are as follows: evaluation of annular drive through, inspection of the radial side of the joint, anterior capsulotomy, insertion of a suture anchor through the anterolateral portal, shuttling of the suture anchor through the ligament, and elimination of the annular drive-through sign. By use of this technique, it is possible to repair a lesion of the R-LCL with a suture anchor that ensures an anatomic repair and, at the same time, returns the annular ligament to its physiological tension.
ISSN:2212-6287