Arthroscopically Assisted Fixation of Terrible Triad Variant Injuries of the Elbow With Small-Bore Needle Arthroscopy

Abstract

The range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of needle arthroscopy (NA) continue to expand due to advances in image quality and resolution. Minimally invasive techniques can be augmented by the smaller camera size and reduced fluid use made possible by NA. Small-bore arthroscopy presents opportunities for use in smaller joints, such as the elbow, where applications of standard arthroscopic equipment may be limited by small anatomic spaces and fluid extravasation. In this Technical Note, we present our technique for NA-assisted treatment of terrible triad injuries, specifically in the setting of an intact radial head. The technique describes a stepwise approach to arthroscopically aided fixation of the coronoid process, followed by open reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligament complex.

Needle Arthroscopy as a Promising Alternative to MRI for the Diagnosis of Meniscus Injury

“…Recently, inoffice needle arthroscopy has become widely used for the evaluation of intra-articular structures; this technique has been shown to have several strong advantages over MRI, including direct visualization and immediate availability in the office. Given these advantages, the use of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques using needle arthroscopy has increased [9][10][11], and this technique is expected to replace MRI as the new diagnostic modality. In addition, due to recent technological advances, needle arthroscopy currently has a diagnostic capability similar to surgical arthroscopy.…”