Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Lateral radial head offset can be associated with chronic epicondylopathia humeri radialis: A new radiological
Romed P Vieider1, Sebastian Siebenlist1, Alexander Wolfgang Marka2
1Department of Sports Orthopaedics, TUM University Hospital, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Purpose:
This study aimed to compare anatomical parameters on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans between patients with symptomatic isolated chronic epicondylopathia humeri radialis (cER) and healthy controls. It was hypothesized that the radial head would show an increased lateral offset in patients with cER.
Methods:
This retrospective radiological case-control study included patients with cER (symptomatic > 6 months) from November 2020 to July 2023. The MRIs of all included patients were compared to those of healthy controls. Radiological measurements were performed in millimetres (mm): lateral humeral epicondyle prominence, radial head diameter, lateral radial head offset, lateral radial head offset ratio (lateral radial head offset/radial head diameter; %) and posterior radial head translation.
Design:
Retrospective radiological case-control study.
Results:
Seventy-seven elbows (37 cER/40 healthy controls) from 57 patients (37 male; age: 39.3 ± 11.2 years; body mass index: 23.0 ± 7.6) were included. There was no significant difference between groups in lateral humeral epicondyle prominence (11.7 ± 8.8 mm vs. 11.0 ± 1.6 mm, p = 0.051) or radial head diameter (22.2 ± 4.1 mm vs. 22.2 ± 3.7 mm, p = 0.779). Lateral radial head offset was significantly greater in the cER group compared with healthy controls (mean difference: 1.84 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-2.60; p < 0.001), while the lateral radial head offset ratio did not differ significantly (21.1% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.691). Posterior radial head translation was also significantly increased in the cER group (mean difference: 4.35 mm, 95% CI = 3.72-4.98; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in ulnohumeral incongruence between groups (2.2 ± 0.6 mm vs. 2.4 ± 0.6 mm, p = 0.238).
Conclusion:
Patients with cER showed significantly higher lateral radial head offset and posterior radial head translation on MRI compared to healthy controls. This may suggest that the dynamic stabilizers are weakened in cER patients, resulting in a relative shift of the radial head towards the lateral and posterior position.
Level Of Evidence:
Level III.
More Related Videos
05:18Author Spotlight: Ultrasound-Guided Needle Release Combined with Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Supinator Syndrome
Published on: May 26, 2023
07:10Modified Long Head of Biceps Tendon Rerouting and Fixation as Partial Capsular Reconstruction for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears
Published on: March 6, 2026
Related Concept Videos
01:09Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a...
01:19Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
01:15Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna
01:16Muscles that Move the Forearm
Forearm Flexors
The biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis are forearm flexors. The biceps brachii is made up of two heads. Its long head originates at the supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, whereas that of the short head is...
01:12Arteries of the Upper Limbs
01:31Muscles that Move the Arm
The pectoralis major has two origins. Its clavicular head originates on the medial half of the clavicle. In contrast, the sternocostal head originates on the costal cartilages of ribs 1-6, the sternum, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique of the...