Coronoid process fracture
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At the time the article was created Alexandra Stanislavsky had no recorded disclosures.
View Alexandra Stanislavsky's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures- Fractures of the coronoid process
Fractures of the coronoid process of the ulna are uncommon and often occur in association with elbow dislocation.
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Pathology
Mechanism
Fracture of the coronoid process is thought to result from elbow hyperextension with either avulsion of the brachialis tendon insertion or shearing off by the trochlea 1.
Classification
Coronoid process fractures have been classified into three types within the Regan and Morrey classification system 1:
type 1: avulsion of the tip of the coronoid process
type 2: fragment involving <50% of the coronoid process
type 3: fragment involving >50% of the coronoid process
The more clinically relevant and more widely adopted by orthopedic surgeon classification is introduced by O'Driscoll:
type I: involves the coronoid tip and affects approximately one-third of the coronoid process
type II: anteromedial facet involvement to a varying degree, with more medial involvement representing a more severe injury subtype
type III: involving coronoid base with disruption of more than 50% of the coronoid body
The prognostic relevance of this classification is contentious, but there is some correlation with the pattern of associated injuries: smaller fractures are more likely to be associated with the “terrible triad” pattern of injury, whereas larger fragments tend to occur with anterior and posterior fracture-dislocations of the olecranon 2.
Radiographic features
Coronoid process fractures may be diagnosed on a plain film series of the elbow, generally on a lateral or a 45° internal oblique view 4. CT is commonly necessary for fracture characterization of the fragment size, the degree of anteromedial involvement, and complex fracture-dislocation.
See also
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Regan W, Morrey B. Fractures of the coronoid process of the ulna. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989;71 (9): 1348-54. J Bone Joint Surg Am (abstract) - Pubmed citation
- 2. Doornberg JN, Ring D. Coronoid fracture patterns. J Hand Surg Am. 2006;31 (1): 45-52. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.08.014 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Doornberg JN, Van duijn J, Ring D. Coronoid fracture height in terrible-triad injuries. J Hand Surg Am. 31 (5): 794-7. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2006.01.004 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Tomás FJ. Alternative radiographic projections of the ulnar coronoid process. Br J Radiol. 2001;74 (884): 756-8. Br J Radiol (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 5. Sheehan SE, Dyer GS, Sodickson AD, Patel KI, Khurana B. Traumatic elbow injuries: what the orthopedic surgeon wants to know. (2013) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 33 (3): 869-88. doi:10.1148/rg.333125176 - Pubmed
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- O'Driscoll classification of coronoid process fractures
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