Posterolateral elbow joint instability: The basic kinematics*,**,*
Abstract
Thirty-five osteoligamentous elbows were included in a study on the kinematics of posterolateral elbow joint instability during the pivot shift test (PST) before and after separate ligament cuttings in the lateral collateral ligament complex (LCLC). Division of the annular ligament or the lateral ulnar collateral ligament caused no laxity during the PST. Division of the lateral collateral ligament caused maximal laxity of 4° and 23° during forced PST in valgus and external rotation (supination), respectively. Cutting of the LCLC at the ulnar or the humeral insertion was necessary for any PST stressed elbow joint laxity to occur. Total division of the LCLC induced a maximal laxity of 7.9° and 37° during forced PST in valgus and external rotation (supination), respectively. This study suggests the lateral collateral ligament to be the primary soft tissue constraint to PST stress and the annular ligament and the lateral ulnar collateral ligament to be only secondary constraints. This study indicates that the integrity of the medial collateral elbow ligaments should be evaluated during forced valgus in pronation or neutral forearm rotation. Furthermore an isometric lateral collateral ligament reconstruction was shown to correct the joint laxity introduced by total LCLC transection. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1998;7:19-29.)
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Elbow anatomy in perspective of joint capsule and surrounding aponeuroses: a narrative review
2024, JSES InternationalBecause of the proximity of several ligaments, aponeuroses, and capsule in the limited area of the elbow joint, the precise anatomy is difficult to understand. In the current narrative review, we focused on two anatomical perspectives: the capsular attachment and structures consisting of ligaments.
Based on the previously performed studies regarding the elbow anatomy, a narrative review was prepared in terms of the capsular attachment and structures consisting of ligaments.
At the tip of the coronoid process, the joint capsule attaches roughly 6 mm distal to its tip with 6-12 mm length. On the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, the capsular attachment at the anterior part of the extensor carpi radialis brevis origin is narrower than the one distal to it. A single interpretation of the lateral collateral ligament is the capsulo-aponeurotic membrane, which is composed of the joint capsule intermingling with the supinator aponeurosis. The anterior bundle of the ulnar collateral ligament could be interpreted as the grossly separated collagenous structure from the tendinous complex, which is composed of the tendinous septum between the flexor digitorum superficialis and pronator teres muscle, the medial part of the brachialis muscle, and deep aponeurosis of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle.
Based on these perspectives, ligaments could function as a “static-dynamic” stabilizer rather than a simple static one.
Preoperative and operative risk factors for failed lateral collateral ligament reconstruction
2023, JSES InternationalRepair or reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) using autograft or allograft is a well-accepted treatment of posterolateral rotatory instability. The prevalence and causes for failure of LCL reconstruction are not well documented in the literature. Any approach to the assessment and management of failed LCL reconstruction must begin with understanding the risk factors for failure in the first place. Such understanding would likely make many failures preventable as well. In our experience, there are a number of identifiable preoperative risk factors concerning bony and/or soft tissue constraints for failure of LCL reconstruction. There are also operative factors such as tunnel and graft placement as well as excessive lateral condyle stripping that play a role in risk of failure. This report is an attempt to provide a systematic approach to identifying and managing the preoperative and operative risk factors. Further studies are warranted to determine the indications for, and success rates of surgical intervention in managing these risk factors.
Elbow chronic instability is a disable complication, presenting as recurrent joint subluxations or dislocations. This systematic review aims to assess (1) the clinical outcome and (2) the complication rates of the surgical techniques currently used in the management of posterolateral rotatory elbow instability.
OVID-MEDLINE®, SCOPUS, and PubMed were searched from January 2009 to February 2019 to identify relevant studies. The search terms used were "LUCL", "Posterolateral dislocation", "Elbow Docking technique", "Elbow Jobe technique" and "Elbow single strand technique". The methodological qualities of the studies were evaluated, relevant data were extracted.
Three studies, published between 2012 and 2015, were included in this review. No studies concerning the single strand technique met the inclusion criteria. The included studies had a level of evidence IV and recruited 33 patients undergoing a Jobe technique reconstruction and 8 patients undergoing a Docking technique. Jobe procedure registered better clinical and functional outcome, assessed using the Mayo Clinic Elbow Performance Scale (MEPS), compared with patients managed with Docking technique. Nonetheless, this difference is not significant. There was not a significantly different complication rate (p = 0.57) between patients treated with these two different techniques.
This systematic review showed that both Jobe and Docking techniques are safe and effective in the treatment of posterolateral elbow instability. However, future studies with larger sample size and a longer follow-up interval are needed to draw stronger conclusions on the efficacy of the different LUCL surgical reconstruction techniques.
Surgical treatment of posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow
2022, Surgical Techniques of the Shoulder, Elbow, and Knee in Sports Medicine, Third EditionIn this chapter we describe the surgical treatment of posterolateralt rotatory instability of the elbow. The results ofsurgical techniques to reconstruct or repair the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) complex have been favorable.
Pullout Strength of All-Suture and Metallic Anchors in Repair of Lateral Collateral Ligament Injuries of the Elbow
2021, Arthroscopy - Journal of Arthroscopic and Related SurgeryTo compare the biomechanical properties of metallic anchor (MA) and all-suture anchor (ASA) constructs in the anatomic reattachment of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament complex to its humeral insertion.
Twenty paired male human cadaveric elbows with a mean age of 46.3 years (range: 33-58 years) were used in this study. Each pair was randomly allocated across 2 groups of either MA or ASA. A single 3.5-mm MA or 2.6-mm ASA was then inserted flush into the lateral epicondyle. A dynamic tensile testing machine was used to perform cyclic loading followed by a load to failure test. During the cyclic loading phase, the anchors were sinusoidally tensioned from 10 N to 100 N for 1,000 cycles at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. In the load to failure test, the anchors were pulled at a rate of 3 mm/s. Load at 1-mm and 2-mm displacement, as well as load to ultimate failure were assessed. Clinical failure was defined as displacement of more than 2 mm. Normality of data was assessed with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Continuous data are presented as medians and compared with the Mann–Whitney U test and categorical data was compared with the χ2 test or Fisher exact test.
Displacement was significantly greater for the ASA group during cyclic loading starting from the tenth cycle (P < .05). Displacement of more than 5 mm within the first 100 cycles was observed in 2 anchors in the ASA group. No difference was observed in loads required to displace 1 mm (MA: 146 N [6-169] vs ASA: 144 N [2-153]; P = .53) and 2 mm (MA: 171 N [13-202] vs ASA: 161 N [9-191]; P = .97), but there was a statistically significant difference between ultimate loads in favor of ASA in the load to failure test (MA: 297 N [84-343] vs 463 N [176-620]; P < .01).
In the cyclic test, no difference in clinical failure defined as pull-out of more than 2 mm was observed between 3.5 mm MAs and 2.6 mm ASAs. In the ultimate load to failure analysis, no difference was observed between groups in force causing 1 and 2 mm of displacement, but there was a significant difference in favor of ASA in the pull to ultimate failure test.
Potential benefits of all-suture anchors include preservation of bone stock, reduced radiographic artifacts, and easier revisions. Although their use has been investigated thoroughly in the shoulder, there remains a paucity of literature regarding displacement and pull-out strength in the elbow.
Relationship Between the Lateral Collateral Ligament of the Elbow and the Kocher Approach: A Cadaver Study
2021, Journal of Hand SurgeryThe lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) is considered to be the portion of the lateral collateral ligament playing the most important stabilizing role. Iatrogenic forms of posterolateral rotatory instability have been described. The Kocher approach is a popular approach to the lateral side of the elbow. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between the LUCL and the Kocher interval.
The Kocher interval was identified and marked in 20 cadavers. The LUCL was identified and the distance between the LUCL insertion on the tubercle of the cresta supinatoris and the Kocher interval was calculated (TK distance). This distance was considered 0 if the Kocher interval was directly above the tubercle, as a positive value if it was anterior to the tubercle, and as a negative value if it was posterior. Finally, the Kocher interval was sharply opened, and elbow stability was tested using the posterolateral rotatory drawer test.
A discrete LUCL was identified in 16 specimens. The mean TK distance was –2.3 ± 4.4 mm (range, –11 to +10). The median TK distance was –3 mm. The posterolateral rotatory drawer test was positive for subluxation after the sharp incision of the Kocher interval in 15 specimens. The median TK distance was significantly higher in the stable group (+2 mm) than in the unstable group (–3 mm).
The LUCL often lies beneath the Kocher interval and is at risk during the Kocher approach.
Iatrogenic forms of posterolateral rotatory instability could result from this approach.
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From the Biomechanics Laboratory, Shoulder and Elbow Clinic, University Hospital of Aarhus.
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Individual reprint requests: Bo Sanderhoff Olsen, MD, Orthopaedic Research Fellow, Biomechanics Laboratory, Shoulder and Elbow Clinic, University Hospital of Aarhus, Randersvej 1, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
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