Ulnar collateral ligament injury

1- A common injury.

2-Types of injury:

-Sprain:

*The ligament should has continuity but with increased thickness and or hazy outline or bright signal (this definition is applied all through the body).

-Tears:

*When the ligament shows discontinuity which could be partial or complete.

-It is not essential to differentiate between sprain and partial tear as usually they have almost the same line of treatment.

-It is essential to differentiate between partial and complete tear as the latter could have interventional line of treatment.

3-Common flexor tendon is common to be injured with ulnar collateral ligament.

4-It is essential to locate the site of the tear if it is ulnar side, humeral side or mid tear (most common).

Coronal STIR image (TR/TE, 6,000/30; inversion time, 150 milliseconds) depicts complete tear at humeral insertion (arrow) of lateral ulnar collateral ligament. Capitellar marrow edema (asterisk) is also noted.