lateral elbow fat pads

Have you ever been working a shift at 3 am and wondered, “Am I missing something? I’ll just splint and instruct the patient to follow up with their PCP in 1 week.” This is a reasonable approach, especially if you’re concerned there could be a fracture. But we can do better. Enter the “Can’t Miss” series: a series organized by body part that will help identify injuries that ideally should not be missed. This list is not meant to be comprehensive review of each body part, but rather to highlight and improve your sensitivity for these potentially catastrophic injuries. To begin: “Can’t Miss” adult elbow injuries.

The Elbow

  • Approximately 5% of all fractures seen in ED involve the elbow.​1​
  • Missed elbow injuries can be highly morbid.

Occult Radial Head Fracture

  • Epidemiology: This is the most common elbow fracture in adults.​2​ They typically occur from a fall onto outstretched hands (FOOSH).  
  • Symptoms: Patients often complain of pain in lateral elbow.
  • Physical Exam: Pain with pronation and supination
  • Diagnostic X-ray: Presence of a pathologic fat pad. In adults this is most likely indicative of a radial head or neck fracture.
  • Treatment: Sling and rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE) if non-displaced and 1-week follow-up.​3​ If displaced or with restricted range of motion, follow-up within 24 hours.​2​
Figure 1. Lateral x-ray view of elbow showing an anterior fat pad/sail sign (red arrows) and posterior fat pad in this case of an occult radial head fracture. Case courtesy of Dr. Ian Bickle, Radiopaedia.org

Coronoid Process Fracture

  • Epidemiology: These are uncommon fractures; they are typically associated with posterior elbow dislocation.
  • Symptoms: Patients report pain and tenderness to palpation over antecubital fossa. Obvious deformity is likely present if the elbow is dislocated.
  • Physical Exam: Tenderness to palpation over antecubital fossa, unstable elbow even after reduction​4​
  • Diagnostic X-ray: These fractures are best seen on lateral view or oblique view. They often require CT for diagnosis.​2​ If a coronoid fracture is identified on post-reduction films, place a long arm posterior mold splint and arrange follow-up within 24 hours.​2​
Figure 2. Lateral x-ray view of the elbow with a coronoid process fracture (blue arrow). Case courtesy of Dr. Maulik S Patel, Radiopaedia.org

Monteggia Fracture-Dislocation

  • Fracture of proximal 1/3 ulna and associated radial head dislocation
  • Epidemiology: These fractures typically occur with FOOSH mechanism; they are more common in children.
  • Symptoms: Patients report pain and swelling at elbow.
  • Physical Exam: Pain, swelling at elbow, limited range of motion
  • Diagnostic X-ray: A radial head that does not point toward the capitellum in any views of the elbow suggests a radial head dislocation. If this occurs, obtain forearm and wrist x-rays to assess for an ulnar fracture.
  • Treatment: Emergent orthopedic consultation​5​
Figure 3: Lateral x-ray of the elbow with a Monteiggia fracture-dislocation. Note the radial head dislocation (red line and green circle indicating radiocapitellar line and capitate, respectively) and proximal ulna fracture (pink arrow). Case courtesy of Dr Craig Hacking, Radiopaedia.org.

Essex-Lopresti Injury

  • Fractured radial head, disruption of the distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ), and a torn forearm inteosseous membrane (IOM)
  • Epidemiology: Thesse fracture typically occur after high impact FOOSH. Rare, but often missed and associated with high morbidity.​1​
  • Symptoms: Patients report pain at elbow.
  • Physical Exam: Tender at the elbow and at the wrist
  • Diagnostic X-ray: These injuries can occur with any radial head fracture but are typically seen with a comminuted radial head fracture. If a radial head fracture is present, obtain forearm wrist x-rays to assess for DRUJ widening especially if a patient has wrist pain.
  • Treatment: These injuries are typically managed operatively.​1​
Figure 4. Essex-Lopresti injury showing a radial head fracture and widening of the distal radio-ulnar joint space. Of note the patient had prior distal radius surgery. Case courtesy of Dr. Henry Knipe, Radiopaedia.org

Want a more basic approach to traumatic elbow imaging? Check out EMRad’s approach to the traumatic adult elbow.

References

  1. 1.
    Goldflam K. Evaluation and treatment of the elbow and forearm injuries in the emergency department. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2015;33(2):409-421. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25892729.
  2. 2.
    Bredenkamp J. Injuries to the Elbow and Forearm. In: Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine. A Comprehensive Guide. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2011:1821-1830.
  3. 3.
    O’Dwyer H, O’Sullivan P, Fitzgerald D, Lee M, McGrath F, Logan P. The fat pad sign following elbow trauma in adults: its usefulness and reliability in suspecting occult fracture. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2004;28(4):562-565. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15232392.
  4. 4.
    Wells J, Ablove R. Coronoid fractures of the elbow. Clin Med Res. 2008;6(1):40-44. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18591378.
  5. 5.
    Delpont M, Louahem D, Cottalorda J. Monteggia injuries. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018;104(1S):S113-S120. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29174872.
Stephen Villa, MD

Stephen Villa, MD

Medical Education Fellow
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles