Elbow joint effusion - sail sign
Updates to Study Attributes
On lateral elbow radiograph, the anterior fat pad (which is intra-articular, but extra-synovial) becomes elevated due to joint effusion appearing as a triangle. This has been termed the sail sign due to the resemblance to the spinnaker of a sailboat.
Image X-ray (Lateral) ( update )
Updates to Study Attributes
Blue Sail
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Image ( update )
Updates to Case Attributes
There is elevated anterior fat pad of the elbow due to joint effusion which is called sail sign.
In adults, this is usually aradial head fracture whereas in children, the commonest cause of a raised elbow elbow fat pad is is a supracondylar fracture. Where a fat pad is raised and no fracture is demonstrated, anoccult fracture should be suspected.
-<p>There is elevated anterior fat pad of the elbow due to joint effusion which is called <strong>sail sign.</strong></p><p>In adults, this is usually a <a href="/articles/radial-head-fractures">radial head fracture</a> whereas in children, the commonest cause of a raised elbow fat pad is a <a href="/articles/supracondylar-fracture">supracondylar fracture</a>. Where a fat pad is raised and no fracture is demonstrated, an <a href="/articles/occult-fracture">occult fracture</a> should be suspected.</p>- +<p>There is elevated anterior fat pad of the elbow due to joint effusion which is called <a title="Sail sign (elbow)" href="/articles/sail-sign-elbow-1">sail sign</a>.</p><p>In adults, this is usually a <a href="/articles/radial-head-fractures">radial head fracture</a> whereas in children, the commonest cause of a raised elbow fat pad is a <a href="/articles/supracondylar-humeral-fracture-2">supracondylar fracture</a>. Where a fat pad is raised and no fracture is demonstrated, an <a href="/articles/occult-fracture">occult fracture</a> should be suspected.</p>
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