Acute medial elbow ruptures

Abstract

Disruption of the ulnar collateral ligament, flexor mus cles, and anterior elbow capsule may result from valgus vector forces and subsequently cause difficulty in throwing, pulling, pushing and catching. Complete medial elbow tears were diagnosed acutely in four elbows by abduction stress tests at 15° of flexion. Three elbows had associated ulnar nerve compres sion. We repaired torn medial structures by direct suture without ligamentous reconstruction. We also decompressed ulnar nerves and performed one an terior transposition. Full range of motion, strength, and return to previous functional level was attained without infection, neurovascular compression, or my ositis ossificans.