Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc
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Traumatic elbow injuries are commonly encountered in the emergency department setting, but their complexity and clinical significance often go unrecognized at the initial evaluation. Initial imaging in patients with elbow trauma should not only help identify major injuries that require immediate intervention but also allow detection of other, often more subtle injuries that may lead to instability or poor functional outcomes if appropriate treatment is delayed. Awareness and detection of these injuries may be improved by a better-developed and more intuitive understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the most common injury patterns. ⋯ Injury patterns are explained in the context of the responsible force mechanism by using three-dimensional modeling and animation, with emphasis on the functional impact of associated secondary bone and soft-tissue injuries. The utility of cross-sectional imaging modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the acute care setting is discussed, and specific imaging guidelines are provided. Supplemental material available at http://radiographics.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/rg.333125176/-/DC1.