TRANSLATIONAL INJURIES IN POSTERIOR ELBOW DISLOCATION

We describe a new plain radiographic finding in posterior elbow disloc ation: a defect in the nonarticular posterior surface of the capitellu m caused by impaction of the radial head during dislocation. The defec t was visible on a lateral view unobscured by overlying bony structure s in the unreduced state and confirmed on both an axial view after red uction and by magnetic resonance imaging. We propose that this lesion is analogous to the Hill-Sachs/Bankart lesion complex seen in translat ional glenohumeral injury.