Elbow series (summary)

Last revised by Tariq Walizai on 21 Jun 2024
This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists

An elbow series is the standard series of radiographs that are performed when looking for evidence of fracture, dislocation or elbow joint effusion following trauma.

Reference article

This is a summary article. For more information, you can read more in-depth reference articles: elbow series (adults), elbow series (pediatrics).

Summary

  • indications

    • suspicion of bony injury

    • suspicion of elbow (or radial head) dislocation

    • elbow pain

  • procedure

  • anatomy

    • bones

      • proximal radius including radial head and radial neck

      • proximal ulna including olecranon and coronoid process

      • distal humerus including humeral condyles

    • joints

      • radiocapitellar joint

      • trochlear joint (humeroulnar joint)

      • proximal radioulnar joint

  • similar tests

  • important pathology

Cases and figures

  • Adult AP
  • Adult lateral
  • Elbow x-ray - labeled anatomy
  • Pediatric AP
  • Pediatric lateral
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