Elbow

CHAPTER 48 Elbow



SKIN AND SOFT TISSUE




SOFT TISSUE: CUBITAL FOSSA


The cubital fossa forms a triangular depression in the middle of the upper part of the anterior aspect of the forearm (Fig. 48.1). The superior border of the fossa is an imaginary line, which joins the two epicondyles of the humerus. The fleshy elevation which constitutes its medial border is formed by the lateral margin of pronator teres and the elevation which forms the lateral border is the medial edge of brachioradialis. The roof of the fossa is formed by the deep fascia of the forearm, reinforced by the bicipital aponeurosis on the medial aspect. The median cubital vein lies on this deep fascia crossed superficially (or sometimes deeply) by the medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm. Brachialis and supinator form the floor of the fossa.



From medial to lateral, the fossa contains the median nerve, the terminal part of the brachial artery together with the start of the radial and ulnar arteries and accompanying veins, the tendon of biceps and the radial nerve just under cover of brachioradialis.



JOINTS


The humerus articulates with both the radius and the ulna at the elbow joint. The radius and ulna articulate by synovial superior (proximal) and inferior (distal) radio-ulnar joints and by an intermediate interosseous membrane and ligament, which constitute a fibrous middle radio-ulnar union.



ELBOW JOINT


The elbow joint is a synovial joint. Its complexity is increased by continuity with the superior radio-ulnar joint. It includes two articulations (Fig. 48.2). These are the humero-ulnar, between the trochlea of the humerus and the ulnar trochlear notch, and the humero-radial, between the capitulum of the humerus and the radial head.








Articulating surfaces


The articular surfaces are the humeral trochlea and capitulum, and the ulnar trochlear notch and radial head. The trochlea is not a simple pulley because its medial flange exceeds its lateral, thus projecting to a lower level. This means that the plane of the joint, approximately 2 cm distal to the inter-epicondylar line, is tilted inferomedially; the trochlea is also widest posteriorly where its lateral edge is sharp. The trochlear notch is not wholly congruent with it: in full extension the medial part of its upper half is not in contact with the trochlea and a corresponding lateral strip loses contact in flexion. The trochlea has an asymmetrical sellar surface, largely concave transversely, convex anteroposteriorly: sections show that these profiles are compounded spirals. Swing is therefore accompanied (as in all hinge joints) by screwing and conjunct rotation. The olecranon and coronoid parts of the trochlear notch are usually separated by a rough strip, devoid of articular cartilage and covered by fibroadipose tissue and synovial membrane. The capitulum and the radial head are reciprocally curved; closest contact occurs in midpronation with a semiflexed radius. The rim of the head, which is more prominent medially, fits the groove between humeral capitulum and trochlea.


The humero-ulnar and humero-radial articulations form a largely uniaxial joint which is one of the most congruent, and therefore most stable, joints in the body. The static soft tissue stability of the joint is derived from the anterior capsule and lunar and radial collateral ligaments.



Fibrous capsule


The fibrous capsule (Fig. 48.2, Fig. 48.3, 48.4) is broad and thin anteriorly. It is attached proximally to the front of the medial epicondyle and humerus above the coronoid and radial fossae, and distally to the edge of the ulnar coronoid process and anular ligament, and is continuous at its sides with the ulnar and radial collateral ligaments. Anteriorly it receives numerous fibres from brachialis. Posteriorly the capsule is thin and attached to the humerus behind its capitulum and near its lateral trochlear margin, to all but the lower part of the edge of the olecranon fossa, and to the back of the medial epicondyle. Inferomedially it reaches the superior and lateral margins of the olecranon and is laterally continuous with the superior radio-ulnar capsule deep to the anular ligament. It is related posteriorly to the tendon of triceps and to anconeus.





Ligaments


The humero-ulnar and humeroradial articulations have ulnar and radial collateral ligaments.



Ulnar collateral ligament


This is a triangular band, consisting of thick anterior, posterior and inferior parts united by a thin region (Fig. 48.2C). The strongest and stiffest anterior part is attached by its apex to the front of the medial epicondyle and by its broad distal base to a proximal tubercle on the medial coronoid margin. The posterior part, also triangular, is attached low on the back of the medial epicondyle and to the medial margin of the olecranon. Between these two bands intermediate fibres descend from the medial epicondyle to an inferior, oblique band, often weak, between the olecranon and coronoid processes. This converts a depression on the medial margin of the trochlear notch into a foramen, through which the intracapsular fat pad is continuous with extracapsular fat medial to the joint. The anterior band is taut throughout most of the range of flexion, while the posterior band becomes taut between half and full flexion.


The ulnar collateral ligament is related to triceps, flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar nerve. Along it, anteriorly, the attachment of flexor digitorum superficialis extends from the medial epicondyle to the medial coronoid border.



Radial collateral ligament


This is attached low on the lateral epicondyle and to the anular ligament (Fig. 48.2D). Some of its posterior fibres cross the ligament to the proximal end of the supinator crest of the ulna. It intimately blends with attachments of supinator and extensor carpi radialis brevis. It is taut throughout most of the range of flexion.



Synovial membrane


The synovial membrane (Figs 48.248.4) extends from the humeral articular margins, lines the coronoid, radial and olecranon fossae, the flat medial trochlear surface, the deep surface of the capsule and the lower part of the anular ligament. Projecting between the radius and ulna from behind is a crescentic synovial fold, which partly divides the joint into humero-radial and humero-ulnar parts. Irregularly triangular, it contains extrasynovial fat (Fig. 48.5). Between the capsule and synovial membrane are three other pads of fat: the largest, at the olecranon fossa, is pressed into the fossa by triceps during flexion; the other two, at the coronoid and radial fossae, are pressed in by brachialis during extension. They are all slightly displaced in contrary movements. Smaller synovial-covered tags of fat project into the joint near constrictions flanking the trochlear notch, and cover small non-articular areas of bone.

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Jun 13, 2016 | Posted by in ANATOMY | Comments Off on Elbow

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