Elbow APTA Flashcards
What are 3 nonmusculoskel conditions that may refer pain to the elbow?
- MI
- Pancoast’s syndrome
- Esophageal motor disorders
What is Pancoast syndrome?
- pain, paresthesias, and potential atrophy of the thenar musculature due to superior sulcus tumors (above the lungs)
- can be associated with Horner’s syndrome at the same time
What are 7 non-neuromuscular conditions that may present with acute, painful swelling?
- Gout/pseudogout
- septic arthritis
- hemarthrosis
- soft tissue abscess
- cellulitis
- reactive arthritis
- CA
What’s a minimum of total elbow ROM to be able to complete most ADLs?
- 30-130*
What is the “carrying angle” of the elbow?
- the angle of the elbow in the frontal plane; between the long axis of the humerus and ulna
- typically 13-16* for females and 11-13* for males
- thought to decrease with taller people
Which epicondyle is more prominent? Medial or lateral?
- medial
What structures attach to the medial epicondyle?
- common flexor tendon
- pronator teres
- ulnar collateral ligament (MCL)
What structures attach to the lateral epicondyle?
- supinator
- extensor muscles of the fingers/wrist
- radial (lateral) collateral ligament
The _____ is the articulating surface of the humerus that communicates with the ______ of the ulna. The _________ is located on the distal lateral aspect of the humerus, with the _____ located just proximal to the trochlea.
- trochlea of the humerus to the greater sigmoid notch of the ulna
- the capitellum is distal/lateral, and the coronoid fossa is proximal to the trochlea
During flexion, the _________ of the ulna articulates with the __________ of the humerus, while the _______ of the radius articulates with the ___________, eventually restrained by the __________ on the anterolateral side of the humerus.
- The coronoid process of the ulna articulates with the coronoid fossa of the humerus, with the radial head of the radius articulating with the capitellum, eventually restrained by the radial fossa of the humerus
What is optimal ROM for pronation/supination?
- 70* of pronation
- 80* of supination
T or F;
The elbow capsule surrounds all three articulations at the elbow (humeroulnar and radial, proximal radioulnar).
- T
The elbow capsule is loosest between what ROM?
- 70-90* flx
What are the 3 portions of the UCL complex?
- anterior: anterior band primarily taut between full extension to 60* flexion; posterior band primarily taut between 60-120* flx
- posterior: fan-like structure, most taut at 90* flx. Anatomically best positioned to restrain gapping during pronation
- transverse (Cooper’s); only variably present
What portion of the UCL is considered the greatest restraint to valgus?
- anterior portion
What are the 4 portions of the RCL complex?
- annular ligament: surrounds the radial head
- radial portion of RCL
- ulnar portion of the RCL: thought to play a role in posterolateral rotary instability
- accessory ligament: only variably present
What ligamentous structure has the greatest role in elbow stabilization?
- the radial collateral ligamentous complex
- joint capsule and common extensors play a secondary role
Which major muscles of the elbow are innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve?
How about the radial nerve?
- musculocutaneous n: biceps brachii and brachialis
- radial n: brachioradialis
The major elbow flexors are innervated by what nerve(s)?
- musculocutaneous and radial
What are the attachments of the brachialis?
Brachioradialis?
- brachialis: under the biceps brachii. Anterior humerus to the ulna tuberosity and coronoid px. Large muscle mass, but small mechanical advantage
- brachioradialis: lateral supracondylar ridge (next to the lateral head of the triceps) to the styloid px of the radius; essentially a forearm muscle. Largest mechanical advantage
What are 3 secondary elbow flexors?
- pronator teres
- extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL)
- flexor carpi radialis (at elbow flx of 50* and >)
What are the two major elbow extensors? What nerve(s) are they innervated by?
- triceps
- anconeus
- Radial n
What are the 3 proximal attachments of the triceps?
- long head attaches to infraglenoid tubercle on scapula
- medial and lateral heads are on the proximal posterior humerus, with the medial head underneath the lateral head
What are the attachments of the anconeus? What is its general function?
- it’s an elbow extender, but functionally it’s a joint stabilizer
- lateral epicondyle to the posterolateral surface of the olecranon and proximal fourth of the ulna
What are the lateral forearm extensors/supinators? (6) What nerve(s) are they innervated by?
- extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL)
- extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB)
- extensor digitorum
- extensor digiti minimi
- extensor carpi ulnaris
- supinator
- all by the radial nerve
What muscles are attached to the common extensor tendon at the lateral epicondyle?
- Extensor carpi radialis brevis
- extensor digitorum
- extensor digiti minimi
- extensor carpi ulnaris
Which extensor muscle is not part of the common extensor tendon? What is it’s action?
- extensor carpi radialis longus
- wrist extension with radial deviation; small role in elbow flexion
The supinator muscle acts as a benchmark for the radial nerve in what way?
- the radial nerve pierces the supinator, exiting as the posterior interosseous nerve
What is the primary supinator of the forearm?
- biceps brachii; although supinator does help
What two muscles are responsible for forearm pronation? What are their general locations?
What nerve innervates them?
- pronator teres; proximal forearm
- pronator quadratum; distal forearm
- median nerve
What is the pronator teres able to do based on it’s location for joint stability?
- resist valgus forces
What are the forearm flexors?
- flexor carpi radialis
- flexor carpi ulnaris
- flexor digitorum superficialis
- flexor digitorum profundus
- palmaris longus
Which forearm flexors are innervated by the median nerve?
- flexor carpi radialis
- flexor digitorum superficialis
- flexor digitorum profundus (dual innervation)
- palmaris longus
What forearm flexors are innervated by the ulnar nerve?
- flexor carpi ulnaris
- ulnar side of the flexor digitorum profundus
What forearm flexor muscle flexes the distal phalangeal joints?
- flexor digitorum profundus
What is the function of the palmaris longus muscle?
- tenses the palmar aponeurosis to assist gripping activities
- can also assist with wrist flexion
The brachial artery is found next to which nerve? What arteries branch off of it?
- found lateral to the median n., palpable in the antecubital fossa
- ulnar and radial aa.
Which nerve roots contribute to the radial nerve?
- C5-8