MR imaging of ligament injuries to the elbow

MR imaging is a highly valuable tool in the evaluation of ligamentous injuries of the elbow. Proper coil selection, patient positioning, and pulse sequence parameters are essential for optimization of image quality. Clinical evaluation of ligamentous injuries is often difficult and visualization at surgery may be limited. MR imaging can demonstrate not only ligamentous pathology but abnormalities in the adjacent osseous and soft tissue structures, making it an important aid to clinical management. In skeletally immature patients, MR imaging can demonstrate injury not only to the ligaments but to the physes and apophyses, making it useful in the evaluation of the pediatric elbow.