25-year-old male. Left elbow possible ligamentous injury secondary to dislocation. Pain and inability to extend. The study is limited due to inability to optimally position the patient. Furthermore, a flex coil was used instead of a high definition knee coil due to inability of the patient to extend his elbow. These limitations result in suboptimal image quality.LIGAMENTS: We see no full thickness tear of the ulnar collateral ligament; however, a small amount of fluid partially separates the distal fibers of the anterior bundle of the ulnar collateral ligament from the sublime tubercle of the coronoid process, which may reflect mild undersurface stripping. Furthermore increased signal intensity within the proximal and posterior fibers of the anterior bundle of the ulnar collateral ligament may represent a partial-thickness tear. The proximal attachment of the radial collateral ligament is not well defined and we cannot exclude the possibility of a partial thickness tear of this ligament either. Distally the ligament, including the lateral ulnar collateral ligament, appear intact.TENDONS: There is poorly defined increased signal intensity within the proximal fibers of the common extensor tendon at its origin suggesting a mild strain. The common flexor tendon is intact. The biceps and brachialis tendons are intact although there is edema within the distal fibers of the brachialis muscle suggesting a strain. The triceps tendon is intact.ARTICULAR SURFACES AND BONE: There is mild edema within the capitellum of the distal humerus but we see no discrete fracture line. We see no fracture of the proximal radius as questioned on recent radiographs. There is a moderate to large elbow joint effusion. We see no cartilage defects given the aforementioned limitations of the study. There is, however, an approximately 7-mm focus of ovoid low signal intensity situated within the joint between the distal humeral articular surface and the posteromedial rim of the proximal radial articular surface, suspicious for an intra-articular loose body, but we cannot determine its source. There may be a slightly smaller loose body more posteriorly in the joint but this is equivocal.
1. Limited study, as described above.2. Findings suggestive of partial thickness tearing of the ulnar collateral ligament and possibly a tear of the radial collateral ligament at its humeral attachment.3. Joint effusion with small focus/foci of low signal intensity in the joint space suspicious for loose bodies. This can be further evaluated with CT if clinically warranted.4. Strains of the brachialis and common extensor tendons.5. Edema within the capitellum may represent a bone contusion but we see no fracture line.