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Characterizing focal muscle signal on MRI in flexor-pronator muscles’ status post ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction

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Abstract

Objective

Focal high signal is commonly seen about the flexor pronator mass on MRI in some patients after ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction of the elbow. The etiology of this high signal is unclear and not described in literature. The hypothesis is that the edema we see on post-operative MRI is related to palmaris longus graft harvest rather than secondary to other causes of muscle edema such as denervation or muscle strain.

Methods and materials

An IRB waiver-approved, retrospective search of our radiology database was conducted using the keywords “ucl,” “elbow,” and “reconstruction” between 1/01/2012 and 1/01/2022, with search parameters set as MRI for exam type. The images were reviewed to evaluate for high signal at the flexor pronator mass by a junior and a senior musculoskeletal radiologist. The surgical notes were then reviewed in electronic medical record system to see which graft was used for the UCL reconstruction.

Results

The cohort comprised of 33 patients (1 female/32males, 14–51 years old) who had undergone UCL reconstructions. Four patients were excluded from the study secondary to the surgical note not specifying which graft was used. The surgical and imaging dates were also recorded with the largest time gap of 7 years between the surgery and imaging. Seventeen of the 29 patients had palmaris longus harvested from the ipsilateral arm, 1 patient had palmaris longus harvested from the contralateral arm, 2 patients had an internal brace, and 9 patients had a hamstring graft. Seventeen out of 17 (100%) patients with ipsilateral palmaris longus graft demonstrated focal edema at the flexor pronator mass while 0/12 of the patients without the palmaris longus graft showed the focal edema seen by its counterparts.

Conclusion

High signal which is commonly seen at the flexor pronator mass in patient status most UCL reconstruction of the elbow is secondary to the palmaris longus harvest rather than other etiologies such as muscle strain, retear, or trauma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA

    Edward S. Yoon, Josh Dines & Doug N. Mintz

  2. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Farhad Pishgar

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  1. Edward S. Yoon
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  2. Farhad Pishgar
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Correspondence to Edward S. Yoon.

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Yoon, E.S., Pishgar, F., Dines, J. et al. Characterizing focal muscle signal on MRI in flexor-pronator muscles’ status post ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. Skeletal Radiol 53, 293–297 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04388-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04388-3

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