Skip to main content

Fracture, Coronoid, Sports Medicine

Delmas Bolin, MD, PhD, FACSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

  • The coronoid process:

    • An important stabilizer of the elbow to varus stress and posterior ulnar displacement

    • Part of the sigmoid notch, the portion of the proximal ulna that articulates with the h...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Common mechanism is fall on outstretched hand.

  • Most patients with coronoid fractures present with elbow dislocations.

  • Direct impact is a less common cause.

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Diffuse edema wit...

TREATMENT

  • Acute treatment 1,3[B]:

    • Elbow dislocations with coronoid fractures should be evaluated for instability and splinted in position of stability.

    • Tip subtype 1 fractures do not involve the inserti...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Joint stiffness and limited ROM are common with prolonged immobilization.

  • Presence of posttraumatic arthritis correlates with patient age.

  • Pain is a common complaint in at least ha...

REFERENCES

1
Adams JE, Sanchez-Sotelo J, Kallina CFIV, et al. Fractures of the coronoid: morphology based upon computer tomography scanning. J Shoulder Elbow Surg.  2012;21(6):782–788.
2
Ring D. Fra...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Coronoid fractures can be managed conservatively with meticulous diagnosis.

  • Athletes with associated soft tissue injuries or instabilities should be referred early for orthopedic evalua...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×