Abstract
Ultrasound examination of the elbow joint and surrounding structures can be extremely useful in rheumatology and other musculoskeletal practices. In this chapter, the standard ultrasound anatomical views of the elbow are presented, along with guidance on techniques for optimizing image quality. Sonoanatomy and sonopathology of the elbow that is relevant to the practice of rheumatology is discussed. The current literature regarding ultrasonography of the elbow is also reviewed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Miles KA, Lamont AC. Ultrasonic demonstration of the elbow fat pads. Clin Radiol. 1989;40(6):602–4.
De Maeseneer M, Jacobson JA, Jaovisidha S, Lenchik L, Ryu KN, Trudell DR, Resnick D. Elbow effusions: distribution of joint fluid with flexion and extension and imaging implications. Invest Radiol. 1998;33(2):117–25.
Sofka CM, Adler RS. Sonography of cubital bursitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004;183(1):51–3.
Koh S, Morris RP, Andersen CL, Jones EA, Viegas SF. Ultrasonographic examination of the synovial fold of the radiohumeral joint. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2007;16(5):609–15.
Luukkainen R, Sanila MT, Saltyshev M, Huhtala H, Koski JM. Relationship between clinically detected joint swelling and effusion diagnosed by ultrasonography in elbow joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol. 2005;24(3):228–31.
Thiele RG, Schlesinger N. Diagnosis of gout by ultrasound. Rheumatology. 2007;46(7):1116–21.
De Smedt T, de Jong A, Van Leemput W, Lieven D, Van Glabbeek F. Lateral epicondylitis in tennis: update on aetiology, biomechanics and treatment. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41(11):816–9.
Levin D, Nazarian LN, Miller TT, O’Kane PL, Feld RI, Parker L, McShane JM. Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow: US findings. Radiology. 2005;237(1):230–4.
Miller TT, Shapiro MA, Schultz E, Kalish PE. Comparison of sonography and MRI for diagnosing epicondylitis. J Clin Ultrasound. 2002;30(4):193–202.
Connell D, Burke F, Coombes P, McNealy S, Freeman D, Pryde D, Hoy G. Sonographic examination of lateral epicondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;176(3):777–82.
du Toit C, Stieler M, Saunders R, Bisset L, Vincenzino B. Diagnostic accuracy of power Doppler ultrasound in patients with chronic tennis elbow. Br J Sports Med. 2008;42(11):872–6.
Torp-Pedersen T, Torp-Pedersen S, Bliddal H. Diagnostic value of ultrasonography in epicondylitis. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136(10):781–2.
D’Agostino MA, Said-Nahal R, Hacquard-Bouder C, Brasseur JL, Dougados M, Breban M. Assessment of peripheral enthesitis in the spondylarthropathies by ultrasonography combined with power Doppler: a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48(2):523–33.
Miller TT, Adler RS. Sonography of tears of the distal biceps tendon. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000;175(4):1081–6.
De Smet AA, Winter TC, Best TM, Bernhardt DT. Dynamic sonography with valgus stress to assess elbow ulnar collateral ligament injury in baseball pitchers. Skeletal Radiol. 2002;31(11):671–6.
Nalbant S, Corominas H, Hsu B, Chen LX, Schumacher HR, Kitumnuaypong T. Ultrasonography for assessment of subcutaneous nodules. J Rheumatol. 2003;30(6):1191–5.
Yoon JS, Hong SJ, Kim BJ, Kim SJ, Kim JM, Walker FO, Cartwright MS. Ulnar nerve and cubital tunnel ultrasound in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89(5):887–9.
Yoon JS, Walker FO, Cartwright MS. Ultrasonographic swelling ratio in the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Muscle Nerve. 2008;38(4):1231–5.
Volpe A, Rossato G, Bottanelli M, Marchetta A, Caramaschi P, Bambara LM, et al. Ultrasound evaluation of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: correlation with electrophysiological studies. Rheumatology. 2009;48(9):1098–101.
Bayrak AO, Bayrak IK, Turker H, Elmali M, Nural MS. Ultrasonography in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: comparison of cross-sectional area and swelling ratio with electrophysiological severity. Muscle Nerve. 2010;41(5):661–6.
Jacobson JA, Jebson PJ, Jeffers AW, Fessell DP, Hayes CW. Ulnar nerve dislocation and snapping triceps syndrome: diagnosis with dynamic sonography – report of three cases. Radiology. 2001;220(3):601–5.
Coombes BK, Bisset L, Brooks P, Khan A, Vincenzino B. Effect of corticosteroid injection, physiotherapy, or both on clinical outcomes in patients with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2013;309(5):461–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Evangelisto, A.M., Kohler, M.J. (2016). Ultrasound of the Elbow. In: Kohler, M. (eds) Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology Review. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32367-1_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32367-1_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-32365-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32367-1
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)