Purpose or Case Report: Purpose:
1. Review focused elbow ultrasound technique for pediatric patients
2. Review normal pediatric elbow anatomy by ultrasound
3. Present a spectrum of pediatric elbow disorders evaluated by ultrasound and demonstrate correlative findings on radiography, arthrography and MRI.
Methods & Materials: We retrospectively reviewed cases of elbow ultrasound at our institution in patients referred for elbow pain, swelling and decreased movement. Clinical presentations and imaging findings were recorded, with an emphasis on sonographic features. Correlation was made with other available imaging modalities and surgical/pathologic findings. Normal sonographic anatomy of the pediatric elbow was studied using two healthy volunteers, ages 6 and 9 years.
Results: Patients referred for elbow ultrasound ranged in age from 1 day to 19 years. The spectrum of elbow disorders evaluated by ultrasound included soft tissue infection and soft tissue abscess, osteomyelitis and subperiosteal abscess, septic arthritis, juvenile arthritis, hemophilic arthropathy, trauma, and congenital dislocation. Key ultrasound findings of each case were highlighted and compared with findings of alternative imaging modalities, as well as results of surgical and pathologic assessments.
Conclusions: Ultrasound is a powerful tool in the assessment of pediatric elbow disorders that enables a detailed and real-time assessment without the use of ionizing radiation. A review of normal elbow anatomy by ultrasound is pertinent to the effective utilization of this tool in pathologic states