Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Medial Elbow Stability

Clinical Implications

  • Injury Clinic
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Medial elbow injuries of athletes, such as baseball pitchers and javelin throwers, can prove to be debilitating and may have a negative effect on performance. The most significant injury to the elbow occurs is an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain or rupture, which compromises the medial stability of the elbow joint. It has been found that the anterior oblique portion of the UCL is the primary stabiliser of the elbow, and that trauma to this complex may significantly hinder normal elbow function. An accurate diagnosis will dictate the degree of injury to the elbow as well as determine the most appropriate means of treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cabrera JM, McCue FC. Nonosseous athletic injuries of the elbow, forearm and hand. Clin Sports Med 1986; 5 (4): 681–700

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Jobe FW, Bradley JP. Ulnar neuritis and ulnar collateral ligament instabilities in overarm throwers. In: Shephard RJ, editor. Current therapy in sports medicine. Toronto: RC Decker, 1990: 419–24

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nirschl RP. Soft-tissue injuries about the elbow. Clin Sports Med 1986; 5 (4): 637–52

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Norwood LA, Shook JA, Andrews JR. Acute medial elbow ruptures. Am J Sports Med 1981; 9 (1): 16–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Morrey BF, Askew LJ, An KN, et al. A biomechanical study of normal functional elbow motion. J Bone Joint Surg 1981; 63-A: 872–7

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hoppenfeld S. Physical examination of the spine and extremities. Connecticut: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  7. Morrey BF, An KN. Articular and ligamentous contributions to the stability of the elbow joint. Am J Sports Med 1983; 11 (5): 315–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bennett JB, Tullos HS. Ligamentous and articular injuries in the athlete. In: Morrey BF, editor. The elbow and its disorders. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company, 1985: 502–22

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hotchkiss RN, Weiland AJ. Valgus stability of the elbow. J Orthop Res 1987; 5: 372–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Morrey BF, An KN. Functional anatomy of the ligaments of the elbow. Clin Orthop Rel Res 1985; 201: 84–90

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schwab GH, Bennett JB, Woods GW, et al. Biomechanics of elbow instability: the role of the medial collateral ligament. Clin Orthop Rel Res 1980; 146: 42–52

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sojbjerg JO, Ovesen J, Nielsen S. Experimental elbow instability after transection of the medial collateral ligament. Clin Orthop Rel Res 1987; 218: 186–90

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sojbjerg JO, Helmig P, Kjaersgaard-Andersen P. Dislocation of the elbow: an experimental study of the ligamentous injuries. Orthopedics 1989; 12 (3): 461–3

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gutierrez LS. A contribution to the study of the limiting factors of elbow extension. Acta Anat (Basel) 1964; 56: 146–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. An KN, Morrey BF. Biomechanics of the elbow. In: Morrey BF, editor. The elbow and its disorders. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company, 1985: 43–61

    Google Scholar 

  16. Constant CR. Injuries to the elbow. J R Coll Surg Edinb 1990; 35: 31–2

    Google Scholar 

  17. Morrey BF, Chao EYS. Passive motion of the elbow joint: a biomechanical analysis. J Bone Joint Surg 1976; 58-A: 501–8

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ray RD, Johnson RJ, Jamieson RW. Rotation of the forearm, an experimental study of pronation supination. J Bone Joint Surg 1951; 33-A: 993–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Loomer RL. Elbow injuries in athletes. Can J Appl Sport Sci 1982; 7 (3): 164–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jobe FW, Nuber G. Throwing injuries of the elbow. Clin Sports Med 1986; 5 (4): 621–35

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wilson FD, Andrews JR, Blackburn TA, et al. Valgus extension overload in the pitching elbow. Am J Sports Med 1983; 11 (2): 83–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Rijke AM, Jones B, Vierhout PAM. Stress examination of traumatised lateral ligaments of the ankle. Clin Orthop Rel Res 1986; 210: 143–51

    Google Scholar 

  23. Rijke AM, Tegtmeyer CJ, Weiland DJ, et al. Stress examination of the cruciate ligaments: a radiological Lachman test. Radiology 1987; 165: 867–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rijke AM, Goitz HT, McCue FC, et al. Graded stress radiography of injured anterior cruciate ligaments. Invest Radiol 1991; 26 (11): 926–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Rijke AM, Goitz HT, McCue FC, et al. Stress radiography of the medial elbow ligaments. Radiology 1994; 191: 213–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute of Sports Medicine and Human Performance, 50 Gulliver Road #509, Toronto, Ontario, M6M 2N2, Canada

    Danny M. Pincivero

  2. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    Kristinn Heinrichs & David H. Perrin

Authors
  1. Danny M. Pincivero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kristinn Heinrichs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David H. Perrin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pincivero, D.M., Heinrichs, K. & Perrin, D.H. Medial Elbow Stability. Sports Med. 18, 141–148 (1994). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199418020-00006

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199418020-00006

Keywords

Search

Navigation