Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability

The coronoid process is key to concentric elbow alignment. Malalignment can contribute to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The aim of treatment is to keep the joint aligned while the collateral ligaments and fractures heal. The injury pattern is apparent in the shape and size of the coronoid fracture...

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Main Authors: Huub H. de Klerk, BSc, David Ring, MD, PhD, Lex Boerboom, MD, Michel P.J. van den Bekerom, MD, PhD, Job N. Doornberg, MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-11-01
Series:JSES International
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638323000877
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author Huub H. de Klerk, BSc
David Ring, MD, PhD
Lex Boerboom, MD
Michel P.J. van den Bekerom, MD, PhD
Job N. Doornberg, MD, PhD
author_facet Huub H. de Klerk, BSc
David Ring, MD, PhD
Lex Boerboom, MD
Michel P.J. van den Bekerom, MD, PhD
Job N. Doornberg, MD, PhD
author_sort Huub H. de Klerk, BSc
collection DOAJ
description The coronoid process is key to concentric elbow alignment. Malalignment can contribute to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The aim of treatment is to keep the joint aligned while the collateral ligaments and fractures heal. The injury pattern is apparent in the shape and size of the coronoid fracture fragments: (1) coronoid tip fractures associated with terrible triad (TT) injuries; (2) anteromedial facet fractures with posteromedial varus rotational type injuries; and (3) large coronoid base fractures with anterior (trans-) or posterior olecranon fracture dislocations.Each injury pattern is associated with specific ligamentous injuries and fracture characteristics useful in planning treatment. The tip fractures associated with TT injuries are repaired with suture fixation or screw fixation in addition to repair or replacement of the radial head fracture and reattachment of the lateral collateral ligament origin. Anteromedial facet fractures are usually repaired with a medial buttress plate. If the elbow is concentrically located on computed tomography and the patient can avoid varus stress for a month, TT and anteromedial facet injuries can be treated nonoperatively. Base fractures are associated with olecranon fractures and can usually be fixed with screws through the posterior plate or with an additional medial plate. If the surgery makes elbow subluxation or dislocation unlikely, and the fracture fixation is secure, elbow motion and stretching can commence within a week when the patient is comfortable.
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spelling doaj.art-d8ecf46dc4cc42b29982386de291fb2a2023-10-28T05:09:46ZengElsevierJSES International2666-63832023-11-017625872593Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instabilityHuub H. de Klerk, BSc0David Ring, MD, PhD1Lex Boerboom, MD2Michel P.J. van den Bekerom, MD, PhD3Job N. Doornberg, MD, PhD4Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Amsterdam Shoulder and Elbow Center of Expertise (ASECE), OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Corresponding author: Huub H. de Klerk, BSc, Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114.Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, The University of Texas at Austin, TX, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the NetherlandsAmsterdam Shoulder and Elbow Center of Expertise (ASECE), OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the NetherlandsThe coronoid process is key to concentric elbow alignment. Malalignment can contribute to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The aim of treatment is to keep the joint aligned while the collateral ligaments and fractures heal. The injury pattern is apparent in the shape and size of the coronoid fracture fragments: (1) coronoid tip fractures associated with terrible triad (TT) injuries; (2) anteromedial facet fractures with posteromedial varus rotational type injuries; and (3) large coronoid base fractures with anterior (trans-) or posterior olecranon fracture dislocations.Each injury pattern is associated with specific ligamentous injuries and fracture characteristics useful in planning treatment. The tip fractures associated with TT injuries are repaired with suture fixation or screw fixation in addition to repair or replacement of the radial head fracture and reattachment of the lateral collateral ligament origin. Anteromedial facet fractures are usually repaired with a medial buttress plate. If the elbow is concentrically located on computed tomography and the patient can avoid varus stress for a month, TT and anteromedial facet injuries can be treated nonoperatively. Base fractures are associated with olecranon fractures and can usually be fixed with screws through the posterior plate or with an additional medial plate. If the surgery makes elbow subluxation or dislocation unlikely, and the fracture fixation is secure, elbow motion and stretching can commence within a week when the patient is comfortable.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638323000877UlnohumeralSubluxationDislocationTreatmentPattern of injuryTerrible triad
spellingShingle Huub H. de Klerk, BSc
David Ring, MD, PhD
Lex Boerboom, MD
Michel P.J. van den Bekerom, MD, PhD
Job N. Doornberg, MD, PhD
Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability
JSES International
Ulnohumeral
Subluxation
Dislocation
Treatment
Pattern of injury
Terrible triad
title Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability
title_full Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability
title_fullStr Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability
title_full_unstemmed Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability
title_short Coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability
title_sort coronoid fractures and traumatic elbow instability
topic Ulnohumeral
Subluxation
Dislocation
Treatment
Pattern of injury
Terrible triad
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638323000877
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AT jobndoornbergmdphd coronoidfracturesandtraumaticelbowinstability