title: Elbow locking in a patient with a congenital radial head dislocation: Case report.
abstract: Snapping elbow is a rare condition, which has various possible causes such as impinged plica, annular ligament, or other extra-articular causes. We report a case of 15-year-old boy who had snapping elbow and sudden-onset flexion contracture of the elbow. Simple radiographs showed bilateral anterior dislocation of hypoplastic radial heads. Magnetic resonance images with the elbow extended as much as possible showed that the annular ligament hemmed the dislocated radial neck. By surgical incision of the annular ligament which checkreined the radial neck, the patients could regain full extension of the elbow. We recommend careful consideration of surgical excision of ligamentous structure which blocks extension in the patients who have history of snapping elbow with congenital radial head dislocation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130 Dongduk-ro, Jung-gu, 41944 Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Daegu Park's Hospital, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: P-T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130 Dongduk-ro, Jung-gu, 41944 Daegu, South Korea. Electronic address: hjleeleehj@gmail.com.
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: University of Science and Technology, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Deslivia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
keywords: Annular ligament; Congenital radial head dislocation; Elbow; Locking; Snapping