MRI in acute simple elbow dislocations: correlation of preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings of collateral ligaments and associated soft tissue injuries.

Purpose: The aim of our study was the evaluation of correspondence among collateral ligaments and other soft tissue injuries detected by MRI and by intraoperative findings in a consecutive series of patients treated for simple elbow dislocation.

Methods: After clinical and MRI examination, 16 out of 59 consecutive patients with moderate or severe instability after simple elbow dislocation were addressed to surgical treatment. There were 14 men and 2 women. The mean age was 39.6 years (range 16-69 years).

Results: MRI showed full-thickness lesion of MCL in 9/16 patients (53.3%) and partial lesion in 6/16 patients (40%), and in 1 case, the MCL was considered intact. On the lateral side, MRI showed complete injury of LCL in 7/16 patients (46.6%) and partial injury in 7/16 patients (40%). No lesions of LCL were observed in 2 patients (13.4%). MCL was surgically explored in all the patients. We observed 10/16 full-thickness lesions (62.5%) and 6/16 partial lesions (37.5%). LCL was surgically explored in 11/16 patients. We observed 6/11 full-thickness lesions (54.6%) and 5/11 partial lesions (45.4%). In 3 cases, associated soft tissue injuries were detected. The rate of concordance between MRI and surgical findings was 87.5% (14/16 cases) on the medial side and 90.9% (10/11 cases) on the lateral side.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that MRI is a reliable and useful tool to investigate collateral ligaments and soft tissue injuries around the elbow and to plan the most adequate surgical treatment.