AGE-RELATED VARIABILITY IN ELBOW JOINT CAPSULE THICKNESS IN ASYMPTOMATIC CHILDREN AND ADULTS

The purpose of this study was to establish normal ultrasonographic mea surements for elbow joint capsule thickness in children. Transverse po sterior ultrasonographic images of 53 elbow joints in asymptomatic pat ients were digitized, and off-line measurements were performed and com pared to the corresponding scale present on each image to yield a reli able measurement in millimeters. Joint capsule thickness measurements regressed with age. Significant differences existed between three age groups. Joint capsule thickness is under 1 mm in children 1 month to 2 years of age, increased significantly to just over 1 mm from 2 to 15 years of age, and approached 2 mm in thickness at and after 15 years o f age.