What is an arthrogram of the elbow?
Imaging of the elbow has undergone significant change in the past decade with the advent of MR imaging. An elbow arthrogram involves having a dye injected into the area of concern, allowing for much greater contrast of the fluid areas surrounding the joint and giving the radiologist an excellent view of the elbow joint. As one evaluates the different uses of arthrography in the elbow, it becomes clear that many abnormalities seen in the elbow are a result of trauma, often from sports, such as baseball and tennis. Elbow problems are frequently related to the medial tension–lateral compression phenomenon where repeated valgus stress produces flexor-pronator strain, ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain, ulnar traction spurring, and ulnar neuropathy. The lateral compression can cause osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum and radial head, loose bodies, and degenerative arthritis. Varus stress produces radial collateral ligament and extensor tendon injuries. Most of these abnormaliti
