Significance of the radiographic parameters in the diagnosis and treatment of a bony impingement of the elbow

Abstract

An elbow's bony impingement is an early x-ray sign of a degenerative process in the elbow joint. Formatted osteophytes in the anterior and posterior compartment of the elbow change the elbow geometry and cause an early deficit in the elbow's range of motion. Because it has a devastating impact on athletes and manual laborers, it has to be recognized and treated early. To do so, a reliable diagnostic method is a necessity. In our study we introduced and tested the radiographic parameters that can be used when diagnosing, pre-operative planning and post-operative evaluating the bony impingement of an elbow.

Reliability of new radiographic measurement techniques for elbow bony impingement

“… 8 Measurements of the Anterior Impingement angle (AIa) and Posterior Impingement angle (PIa) were obtained on lateral x-ray images as previously described by Meglic and Zupanc. 9 The angle between the centralized ulnar direction line and the line between the center of rotation (COR) and the tip of the coronoid presents AIa. The angle between the centralized ulnar direction line and the line between the COR and the tip of the olecranon presents PIa ( Figure 1A, B) .…”

“…The angle between the centralized ulnar direction line and the line between the COR and the tip of the olecranon presents PIa ( Figure 1A, B) . 9 For reliability evaluation, two upper extremity surgeons (OZ, UM) and one resident after radiological training (NK), independently evaluated each radiograph for radiographic measurements of AIa and PIa. Each evaluator re-measured both parameters after an interval of at least 2 weeks, a period used in other reliability studies in upper extremity.…”