2023 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster
Retrospective Analysis Of The Main Arthro-Ct Radiological-Findings In Elbow’S Ligamentous Pathologies
Paolo Arrigoni, Milan ITALY
Mattia Radici, MD, Milan ITALY
Martina Archinà, MD, Milano ITALY
Francesco Luceri, MD, Milano, Italy/Lombardia ITALY
Andrea Zagarella, MD, Milano GERMANY
Pietro Simone Randelli, MD, Prof., Milan ITALY
ASST Centro Specialistico Ortopedico Traumatologico Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milan, ITALY
FDA Status Not Applicable
Summary
The aim of this study is to evaluate sensibility of arthro-CT in detecting intra-articular lateral pathology of the elbow.
ePosters will be available shortly before Congress
Abstract
Objectives
Nowadays it is clear how lateral elbow pain is often expression of an intra-articular pathology. There are lots of patients with elbow pain which are classified as lateral epicondylitis. Several studies demonstrate that in a large part of them there are frequently intra-articular disorders. Image-based diagnosis and classification of intraarticular findings associated with elbow pain is challenging. Ultrasound, besides being operator dependent, has a limited role in the evaluation of joint cartilage, capsule, and ligaments. With the advent of MR, MR arthrography gained widespread use in the evaluation of the elbow. Even if MR is considered the gold standard, it has some diagnostic limitations and it’s not eligible for all patients. CT arthrography is another well-established technique, with similar accuracy level and higher image resolution compared to MR. Nevertheless, there is a poor literature about its use in elbow articular assessment. The aim of this study is to evaluate sensibility of arthro-CT in detecting intra-articular lateral pathology of the elbow. In addition, the purpose is to confirm that with lateral elbow pain there are often intra-articular alterations.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 37 patients, with no history of trauma, clinically suspicious for elbow minor instability who underwent arthro-TC. These patients reported lateral elbow pain, with positive examination for varus minor laxity. We analyzed imaging findings, with particular regards to intraarticular structures. Clinical and radiological findings were finally compared.
Results
37 arthro-CT were analyzed. All of these were performed on patients who presented for lateral elbow pain with clinical suspicious of symptomatic minor instability.
35 of 37 showed a pathological involvement of the ligamentous complex of the elbow after intraarticular contrast media injection, all of them without complete ligamentous lesions, suggestive for patholaxity. Radiological main findings were synovitis, capsular tears, patholaxity with overdistension of the lateral collateral ligamentous complex and loose collar sign, osteochondral lesions. Sensibility of arthro-CT in detecting intra-articular pathology with lateral elbow pain is very high (94.59%).