Detection of intraarticular bodies of the elbow with saline arthrosonography.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether ultrasound with intraarticular injection of saline increases the detection of intraarticular bodies of the elbow.


METHODS
Twelve patients (age range 21-42 years, mean 29 years; 8 male, 4 female) referred over a 2-year period with an equivocal history of elbow locking and plain radiographs had a joint injection of at least 12 ml of sterile saline during ultrasound examination. No patient had a joint effusion before injection. Surgical correlation was available in six patients.


RESULTS
Ten patients had intraarticular bodies but these were demonstrated only after joint injection in six patients. Arthroscopy performed in six patients confirmed intraarticular bodies in five. Radiographs were falsely positive in one and falsely negative in seven patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Joint injection improves the sonographic evaluation and conspicuity of small and radiographically occult intraarticular loose bodies in the clinically equivocal elbow. The procedure is simple, quick, well tolerated and reproducible.
Department of Radiology, Royal Infirmary, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9YW, UK.
J H
JH
Miller
I
I
Beggs
D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007594:Joint Loose Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014463:Ultrasonography
D012965:Sodium Chloride