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Supracondylar spur

Last revised by Tariq Walizai on 13 Aug 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Weerakkody Y, Walizai T, Hacking C, et al. Supracondylar spur. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9956

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9956

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/9956

rID:

9956

Article created:

2 Jun 2010, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Last revised:

13 Aug 2024, Tariq Walizai

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures

Revisions:

27 times, by 17 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

upper extremity, anatomical, variant

Synonyms:

Supracondylar process
Epicondylar process
Supratrochlear spur
Avian spur

A supracondylar spur, supracondylar process, supratrochlear spur, or avian spur of the distal anteromedial humeral cortex is an anatomical variant present in ~1% ^1,2 of the population.

The ligament of Struthers may be present and join the tip of this process with the medial epicondyle ¹, forming a supracondylar canal through which the median nerve and brachial artery pass ². This ligament is thought to represent the vestigial third head of coracobrachialis. The two main heads surround the musculocutaneous nerve and then fuse in human fetuses, explaining why the nerve passes through the muscle ⁴.

Clinical presentation

Most patients are asymptomatic although it should be considered if patients present with symptoms of median nerve compression and there is no pathology on imaging of the carpal tunnel.

This can also result in compression of the brachial artery.

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Typically, it is seen as a small bony spur projecting anteromedially from the humeral metadiaphysis towards the elbow joint.

Treatment and prognosis

Complications

supracondylar process syndrome: associated neuropathy of the median nerve ¹
brachial artery compression

Differential diagnosis

osteochondroma: usually points away from the joint

References

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Supracondylar spur

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

On this page:

Gross anatomy