MEDIAL ELBOW STABILITY - CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Medial elbow injuries of athletes, such as baseball pitchers and javel in throwers, can prove to be debilitating and may have a negative effe ct on performance. The most significant injury to the elbow occurs is an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain or rupture, which compromise s the medial stability of the elbow joint. It has been found that the anterior oblique portion of the UCL is the primary stabiliser of the e lbow, and that trauma to this complex may significantly hinder normal elbow function. An accurate diagnosis will dictate the degree of injur y to the elbow as well as determine the most appropriate means of trea tment.