Open reduction and internal fixation of crista supinatoris fractures is required when the elbow is unstable despite appropriate nonoperative management and when a patient is undergoing surgical treatment of a periarticular elbow fracture-dislocation.
The lateral collateral ligament of the elbow is composed of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament, the radial collateral ligament, and the annular ligament. Fractures of the crista supinatoris indicate partial or complete disruption of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament at its ulnar attachment. Disruption of the lateral collateral ligament is commonly encountered in the setting of an elbow dislocation. In a consecutive series of ten simple elbow dislocations and fifty-two complex elbow fracture-dislocations, McKee et al. identified disruption of the lateral collateral ligament in all patients. The two most frequently seen patterns of injury were proximal avulsion of the lateral collateral ligament (52% of the injuries) and midsubstance rupture of the lateral collateral ligament (29%). Osseous avulsion of the crista supinatoris was identified in one patient in that series. Recognition of this newly described injury pattern is important as it indicates partial or complete disruption of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament at its distal insertion. |