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. 2008 Sep 19;1(1):168.
doi: 10.1186/1757-1626-1-168.

Posterior dislocation of the elbow associated with fracture of the radial head and olecranon, and with medial collateral ligament disruption: A case report

Hua Chen  1 , Peifu Tang, Boxun Zhang
Affiliations

Posterior dislocation of the elbow associated with fracture of the radial head and olecranon, and with medial collateral ligament disruption: A case report

Hua Chen et al. Cases J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Fracture dislocations of the elbow appear extremely complex. Identification of the basic injury patterns can facilitate management.

Case presentation: A 38-year-old male motor-vehicle driver who fell on his right elbow after an accident was suffering from posterior dislocation of the elbow, without coronoid fracture, and with fracture of the radial head and olecranon, and medial collateral ligament disruption, which was not associated with any vascular or neural injury.

Conclusion: Posterior dislocation of the elbow associated with fracture of the radial head and olecranon, and medial collateral ligament disruption may be a rare subgroup of elbow dislocation. We should pay more attention to medial collateral ligament injury with elbow dislocation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
X-ray images of posterior elbow dislocation with fracture of the olecranon and radial head.
Figure 2
Figure 2
3D CT of posterior elbow dislocation with fracture of the olecranon and radial head, without coronoid fracture.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Olecranon simple oblique fracture, radial head comminuted fracture, medial collateral ligament disruption from the point of insertion to the distal humerus, which was not associated with neural injury.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Medial collateral ligaments were repaired with a suture anchor, the radial head was resected, and the olecranon fracture was fixed with a lag screw and a tension band wire.
Figure 5
Figure 5
A new injury pattern associated with olecranon fracture dislocation without coronoid fractures, with radial head fracture and medial collateral ligament disruption, caused instability of the elbow.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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