Forearm, Elbow, and Humerus Radiography
Russell L. Wilson in Chiropractic Radiography and Quality Assurance Handbook, 2020
Sponges can be used under the wrist to get the forearm parallel to the film for both views. Proximal injuries are generally associated with elbow trauma; the ulna and radius can be fractured mid-shaft; and distal injuries are considered as wrist injuries. A direct blow to the dorsum of the forearm can fracture the ulna and dislocate the radius. The axial view of the elbow will provide a more detailed look at the soft tissues immediately around the olecranon and olecranon fossa. Regular rare-earth cassette Anatomical Top to Bottom: slightly less than film size, or to include elbow and wrist; Side to Side: soft tissue of forearm. Fine (extremity) cassette Anatomical Top to Bottom: slightly less than film size; Side to Side: soft tissue of elbow. If the patient is not able to straighten arm fully, a view with the humerus parallel to film and one with the forearm parallel to film should be taken.
Bursae
Louis Komzsik in Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine For The Primary Care Practitioner, 2015
There are approximately 160 discrete bursae in the human body. Most true bursae form during embryonic development, though some, such as the olecranon bursa, may develop later in life.1 Adventitial bursae also form later in life in response to repeated trauma, constant pressure, or friction. While anatomic/true bursae are lined with epithelial cells and contain synovial cells that secrete lubricating uid rich in collagen and proteoglycans, adventitial bursae lack endothelial cells and do not secrete or contain synovial uid. Most of the bursae described in this chapter are anatomic/true bursae. Examples of adventitial bursae include those that form over a bunion or over an osteochondroma.
INJURIES TO THE ELBOW AND FOREARM
Anthony F T Brown, Michael D Cadogan in Emergency Medicine, 2006
SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURE OF THE HUMERUS DIAGNOSIS (1) This fracture occurs most commonly in children from a fall on to the outstretched hand, although it is also seen in adults. (2) There is tenderness and swelling over the distal humerus, but the olecranon and two epicondyles remain in their usual ‘equilateral triangle’ relationship (which is lost in dislocation of the elbow).
The olecranon sled—a new device for fixation of fractures of the olecranon: A mechanical comparison of two fixation methods in cadaver elbows
Published in Acta Orthopaedica, 2006
Jan Dieterich, Frederick J Kummer, Leif Ceder
Background Tension band wiring is the most common surgical procedure for fixation of fractures of the olecranon, but symptomatic hardware prominence and migration of K-wires can cause a high re-operation rate. The olecranon sled has been designed to minimize some of these problems. Material and methods Simulated olecranon fractures were created in 6 matched pairs of cadaver arms. Each pair was fixed with tension band wiring used on the one arm and the olecranon sled being used on the other. Mechanical testing was done with the humerus rigidly fixed in a vertical position while the forearm was held at 1 of 3 angles of elbow fixation, 45°, 90° and 135°, respectively. For each angle, the triceps and the brachialis muscles were sequentially loaded with 5 kg (50 N) for 20 cycles and the amount of fracture displacement measured. Results Loading of the brachialis muscle produced no increase in the fracture gap for either of the two fixation techniques. However, an increase in the fracture gap of up to 0.23 mm was found after cyclic loading of the triceps muscle for both techniques. The amount of increase was not significantly different between the two techniques. Interpretation The olecranon sled appears to provide as stable fixation as tension band wiring for olecranon fractures.
Morphologic evaluation of the ulna
Published in Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica, 2003
Fuat Akpınar, Atıf Aydınlıoglu, Nihat Tosun, Íbrahim Tuncay
Intramedullary ulnar nailing may be technically difficult. We used various methods and measurements to determine the ideal nail entry point and the shape, length, diameter and curvature of the medullary canal in 44 human cadaver ulnas. We found that the ideal nail entry point was, on average, 7 mm proximal and 3 mm lateral to the most prominent area of the olecranon. A nail of 3 mm diameter could easily be inserted through a hole at the proximal-lateral side of the most prominent part of the olecranon, but only 20% of all nails could be easily inserted through a hole in the middle of the olecranon. We found that correct selection of a nail of proper length and diameter, as well as an ideal nail entry point on the olecranon are essential to successful nailing.
Development of the olecranon bursa An anatomic cadaver study
Published in Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica, 1987
Juza Chen, Doron Alk, Itamar Eventov, Shlomo Wientroub
Anatomic dissection of the elbows of 63 cadavers selected at random were performed in an attempt to find out whether the incidental disparity of olecranon bursitis between children and adults might be explained by anatomic differences. The volume of the bursae was determined by syringes used for methylene blue injections. There were no olecranon bursae in children under the age of 7 years; the volume of the bursae increased with age; and the bursa was usually larger on the right, i.e., the common dominant side. The formation of the bursae in late childhood can explain the low incidence of olecranon bursitis in children.