Presentation
Fall on the right arm, complaining from elbow pain
Patient Data
On the lateral view of the right elbow, the anterior fat pad is elevated, creating a silhouette similar to a boat sail ( the anterior red line), called the "anterior fat pad sign," which indicates joint effusion. Besides, the posterior fat is visualized ( the posterior red line), which is not normally seen in this view, called the "posterior fat pad sign," again indicating elbow joint effusion and a fracture in the trauma setting.
Moreover, this is a perfect example of exhibiting how helpful is the external oblique view of the elbow to demonstrate better the radial head fracture (shown with red dots).
Case Discussion
Elbow joint is highly susceptible to injuries, and minor injuries can associate with major disabilities. Sometimes, in non-displaced radial head fracture, the only clue might be a visible displaced posterior fat pad. It is reasonable to diagnose a nondisplaced fracture based on a history of trauma and the presence of a posterior fat pad sign.